#I’m not taking 30 instant in the morning she’s having me take 20 in the morning and another 10 in the afternoon

[alrightstartingscene]

The telehealth nurse I’ve been getting my adhd meds from has officially upped me to 30mgs of instant release adderall a day. I better fucking get so much shit done istg

[unknwnxquantity]

Thursday was one of those days that shows you life could be over in an instant without even knowing it, that an initial inconvenience could’ve actually saved your life. I have an old car. Old ass car more than 20 years old. Love her, we named her Beatrice bc she’s beat, white and old. It’s a long story how we got her but it was a gift to us!Shoutout my gfs dad :) Anyways we were under the impression it was good for the most part. She shakes, she started making loud ass sounds recently. The brakes are a bit wonky but we were under the impression they had just been changed months ago before we got it. And then the check engine light pops up out of nowhere yesterday during a really inconvenient time. I was so annoyed at that. Was already having a bad and stressful morning. Driving to and from a place towns away and the traffic is HORRIBLE in the mornings. Just tryna come back to where I’m at, takes at least over an hr or even an hr and 30 min at times, when without traffic it’s a 30-40 min drive. I was like plssss god just get us to our destination safe and let me get home safe and sound.

I get home safe and sound. Get to work right after. Then my gf asks me if I wanna go take the car to her best friends bf who’s a mechanic to get the engine light checked out and also the sounds Beatrice has been making. I’m like ughhhhhh bro I been working back to back these days with barely any breaks in between I’m so tired. But I do it anyways after my second shift ends at 5. I drive to him IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY yet again and I’m like these brakessss, are wonkyyy. They feel different some days and I gotta be on my toes no pun intended 🤪. Sometimes Beatrice feels safe to drive, other times I gotta be more cautious bc it’ll feel different. It takes me almost 30 min to get to him. I never hung out with him one on one, and only really met him once. It was just me and him in the auto shop he works at. Such a masculine environment😭😭 I don’t know SHIT about cars I’m just a girl just tryna get by man.

I bring up to him like heyyyy I’ve noticed the brakes feel a little weird. It scares me at times— It makes me think of the incident with my sisters first car years back. Similar car just different model, same yt hoopty vibe. She named hers Steve and spent $500 on it like my gfs dad did. But after a while of driving her cars brakes gave out out of nowhere while she was nearby where she lives. She thought she was legit gonna die and called her bf (who I set her up with) to help calm her down and if worst case, he’d be the last one to talk to her and know what happened. He tells her what to do (I forgot, I think just keep driving around the block til it eventually stops). And in my head these past few weeks i think of that. Especially since two weeks ago, where i witnessed a car in the other lane lose control of their car and directly collide with a car right behind me. That could’ve been me if i was a few seconds behind—Anyways I tell him I feel weird with the brakes and he’s like okay lemme take a look at it. He takes a couple test drives too to see what else could be wrong with the car. Well apparently our brakes were so bad, the brake pads were worn down to the literal core even tho me and my gf were under the impression that the brakes were replaced months ago. No padding whatsoever, that her friends bf, I’ll call him F, said it would’ve given out any day, he didn’t even trust me driving back home. He replaces them bc he just so happened to have the parts I needed, and just doing the most being so sweet. He’s just a caring golden retriever white man who goes above and beyond for those he loves since my gf and the friend have been friends for over a decade.

During the 2 hours I was there with him😭 me and him talked about random shit. He’s the type of guy to talk about anything and everything. But one of the convos we talked about was how ppl aren’t usually grateful for life, and miss out on potential connections bc they’re caught up in their own worlds. That he’s seen real life poverty and ppl dying in front of him and how traveling opens up a world of new perspectives. I eat convos like this UP. He told me about how he the other day helped this middle aged lady at a store bc she had mad shit in her hand and dropped something. He automatically picks it up for her without hesitating. But that kindness and consideration led him to having a 15 minute conversation with her and it brightened his day a bit having that. And then I mention even in the most mundane or boring situations, like waiting in line at a store, can be an opportunity to be grateful for life. An opportunity to say something to the person in front of you. Or to observe your surroundings. It was nice having that and having someone understand that. He’s also so passionate about cars and know his shit. It was so fucking refreshing to see the passion ooze the way it did when he talks about cars and the mechanics of it all. That jobs like his are safe bc we’ll always need human mechanics and the services they provide and that gives him relief to keep doing what he loves without anxiety one day his job could be taken from him.

I don’t want to make this entry too long even tho it already is. But yeah just random stuff. He really hooked us up and didn’t charge us for the labor of the things he did. Like he filled my car up with oil bc apparently I HAD NO OIL EITHER!!! He showed me how to pop the hood and just other little things he said he’ll help us with at a really considerate price. As I was about to leave and put in the gps, he recommends I go a specific route bc it’s a straight shot to the highway and easier than going the way I was gonna go. I go that way, and my gps just sends me down a somewhat scenic route. No highways. And then I somehow drive down the street of *knock on wood* my next job. Which that also just fell into my lap. A customer (who’s also gay so it’s always good energy when I see her) at my one job was looking for me one day, came in and was like hey…. Are you maybe looking for a new job? And I’m like YES PLEASE and gives me her number. I send her my resume. Coaches me on what to speak on in the interview. Apparently she’s a director in the specific program. It would be an environment where I feel I could make a difference and she’s like “listen I know I don’t know you well but I feel you might have a knack for this… sometimes you just need someone to connect you to where you need to go” so knock on wood again things go good and I hear back for next steps.

If you follow my entries, you’ll pick up that I think and talk about passing/d3ath a lot. In a lot of different ways and forms. Even tho I’ll be like ahahahah I don’t wanna be here🤪🤪🤪, I do. Like imagine I didn’t go to F when I did, what if I’m like no I just want to go home after work. But my gf thought to reach out to him all bc the engine light randomly came up (what if she didn’t think to ask him?) We would’ve never put two and two together about the brakes being so bad that they could give out any day on us (and apparently the reason why the engine light came on is a super quick fix). What if he wasn’t available that night? Then what could’ve happened the following days? A lot. I really am protected. And I really am grateful for life. The butterfly effect is crazy and sometimes ppl are faced with super unfortunate instances where life is put in their face and they realize how delicate and fragile things are. How delicate and fragile we all are. That’s why I knock on wood and thank god the universe my angels everyoneee for all the good things in my life and how “easy” I have it in comparison to millions (actually could be billions) of other people around the world.

[15-dogs]

hey lover |s.r.|

pairing: spencer reid x fem!reader

summary: spencer wants to ask you on a date but his fear of rejection causes him to write you a letter. however, he’s made the miniscule and idiotic mistake of forgetting to sign it. (fluff, mutual pining, and miscommunication!!)

warnings: very light swearing, description of murders/crime scenes (criminal minds level gore/description), food mention

guide: (Y/N) = your name, (Y/L/N) = your last name, (Y/N/N) = your nickname, italics = letter

word count: 3.2K

a/n: asjkdfhkj this is my first spencer fic i hope it turned out ok!!

***

It seemed like a good idea at first. Derek’s ideas always seem good at first. Spencer wasn’t sure why he trusted things would work out without error. Yet there he was, letter in hand and eyes wide at the stupid, miniscule mistake he made while you awaited his answer.

***

You had just begun working at the BAU no more than 3 months ago as the new communications liaison, replacing JJ while she was absent on maternity leave. You were quickly integrated into the carefully woven quilt that was the BAU and, in turn, you had built some very close relationships with your coworkers. 

However, there was one person who you had grown extraordinarily fond of: Spencer Reid. You didn’t want to admit how smitten you were with the doctor, seeing as you were only working at the BAU for so long, but it was an indisputable fact you had fallen for him.

Unbeknownst to you, Spencer felt the exact same way. Your courageous and selfless demeanor struck him as something he hadn’t seen in anyone in quite some time. Not to mention how incredibly beautiful you were. Spencer knew it was impossible for anyone to be perfect but, when you made him feel the way he did, he began to question his thinking.

Spencer was quite terrible at hiding his feelings, finding himself staring at you a second too long when you walked to your office in the morning or bringing you extra breakfast and coffee because the store just happened to have an extra muffin they wanted to get rid of. It was so obvious yet you couldn’t pick it up for the life of you and Spencer really thought he was flirting to the fullest extent of his ability.

One morning you were running late. You had yet to arrive but you called Hotch to let him know you’d be at the office in no more than 30 minutes because the train was down for the time being. You also had texted Spencer, asking him if he wanted something at the small coffee shop around the corner while you waited. So as Spencer gave you his order with one hand, he downed the coffees he had made for you and himself in the other.

“Whoa, kid,” Morgan chuckled, prying the cup from his hand, “slow down. Your toothpick-body can’t take all that caffeine.”

Spencer swatted at Derek in an attempt to get the cup back only to see him lift it to his lips. “Oh, I’m sorry,” Morgan started with mock innocence, “was this for a certain communications liaison that a certain doctor has a crush on?”

Spencer rolled his eyes but felt the back of his neck heat up. “I don’t have a crush on her.” He made his way back to his desk, ignoring Morgan’s eyes boring into him.

“Oh, really? That’s a shame,” he could practically hear the teasing grin in Morgan’s words, “because she likes you.”

Spencer went rigid. He spun slowly on his heel until he saw Morgan’s smirking face, feeling his stomach drop again. He couldn’t believe he fell for that. Spencer retreated to his desk with Derek chasing after him.

“Kid, kid, listen! I know you like her! I was just-”

“Be quiet!” hissed Spencer, his cheeks now coated in a healthy flush.

However, Morgan wasn’t quiet enough. Emily perked up from her desk, rolling her chair over to join the conversation. “What are we talking about?”

Spencer tensed his hands and shook his head, turning to face his work again when Morgan explained, “How pretty boy’s got it bad for (Y/L/N) and won’t do a damn thing about it.”

“What?!” Spencer whipped around, his jaw slack from panic. Morgan and Emily were cackling to themselves at his shock, not even bothering to silence themselves.

“Reid,” Emily began, clutching her stomach from laughter, “it’s okay, I know you like her-”

“What?!”

Spencer’s increasing panic only furthered the pair to laugh even harder. Was he that easy to read? Did everyone know how he felt towards you? Dread began to set into his stomach at the thought of you knowing. His overthinking mind started to wander, assuming you knew how he felt and had led him on to get free breakfast every morning. He quickly scolded himself for thinking that— he’d been hurt too many times before, making that line of thinking second nature. But you weren’t someone who wanted to see people hurt; you were too kind, too caring to do that to anyone.

“Why don’t you just ask her out?” Emily asked. “She obviously likes you, too.”

Spencer’s eyes lit up for a second at the thought of you feeling the same but he caught himself. A moment too late, however. Emily and Morgan teased him, batting their lashes and making kissy faces at him, leading to Spencer throwing his head in hands to hide from their stares.

The two were no later interrupted as Hotch called Emily up to his office to go over a report she had put in, leaving Spencer and Morgan alone. Derek nudged Spencer’s leg, Spencer frowning at him as he met his eyes.

“Listen, kid, Prentiss was right. Why don’t you ask her out?”

If what Derek and Emily had said was true, why couldn’t he? He imagined himself walking up to you and asking you on a date, his heart fluttering at the thought. His fantasy soon turned sour as you snorted at his question, shaking your head vigorously and pushing him out of your office.

“I don’t think I could look her in the eyes if she rejects me.” Spencer’s voice was no more than a whisper as he announced his realization.

Morgan laid a hand on his shoulder, the other reaching around Spencer’s desk to hand him a piece of paper and a pen. “Then we’re going to do this the old fashioned way. Women love it when they get love letters, so write her one.” Spencer’s eyes bulged at Morgan’s words. “Love might be a bit strong, I get it, but you get the sentiment, right? Write her a letter about why you like her, ask her out at the end of the letter, and then slip it under her door.”

Spencer nodded slowly before shooing Morgan away, already hunched over the first draft of the letter. He worked it over and over again, feeling like each copy wasn’t good enough for you until he saw his phone buzz. It was a text from you. You were heading up. Spencer panicked, folding his latest draft and slipping it under the door to your office before settling back at his desk.

You waddled in from the elevators, attempting to balance a carry-out tray of coffees and a bag of croissants in one hand and your work bag in the other. Spencer jumped up from his seat, relieving you of the items belonging to him in an instant.

“Thank you so much, Spence. I was seconds away from dropping my breakfast.” You shouldered him gently in place of a grateful gesture. He nodded, ducking his head in hopes you hadn’t noticed the blush creeping up his cheeks.

Before Spencer could say anything, your phone rang. Sending him an apologetic smile, you managed to slip it out of your pocket and place it on your shoulder, shrugging it up to your ear as you answered. “(Y/N) (Y/L/N).”

Spencer watched you walk off towards your office, taking a short sip from the coffee he definitely didn’t need. You stepped in and flicked the lights on with your elbow before tossing your bag onto your desk, freeing a hand to hold your cell phone. You took another step in before stumbling, your shoes caught on a loose paper by your door.

It was go time.

Spencer hurried back to his desk and pretended he wasn’t looking at you, even though it was extremely obvious he was. You set your breakfast on your desk and bent over to pick up the note, skimming it as you spoke. Your head snapped up and you turned to face the window that exposed the bullpen, Spencer ducking his head down and innocently reading the newspaper on his desk. He chanced a look up only to see you frown and hurriedly shut the blinds.

Spencer thought he was going to be sick. He paled and ran his hands over his face before digging the heel of his palms into his temples, massaging them roughly. You looked upset— disgusted. Why did he think you’d ever like him?

Before he could indulge in his own pity party, you stormed out of your office with a large file in hand. You raised it in the air to gather the attention of the team as you announced, “We have a case!”

The team scurried in after you, everyone finding their places in the conference room as you clicked on your presentation. The pictures of two young couples appeared on the screen as you passed the files around.

“Four victims from Atlantic City have been found dead in their homes.” You clicked to the crime scene photos, wincing at the sight. “The husbands’ C.O.D. being a slice through the carotid and the wives’ a shot through the head execution style. The husbands have also had their...hands removed.”

Hotch looked up from the file, brows furrowed. “This all happened in the span of 3 days so we need to be vigilant. He could be planning his next attack right now. Wheels up in 20.”

***

On the plane ride to New Jersey, the team had finished being briefed by Garcia’s intel quicker than usual and were left to ponder their own thoughts. You sat off by yourself at a table in the back of the jet, opening your bag to sneak out the letter left at your office earlier. You scanned the words and frowned again before being hit with a genius idea.

You stood from your seat and settled next to Spencer on the couch. Oddly, he went rigid at your presence, sitting up straight and avoiding eye contact. You shook it off and continued on with your plan.

“Spence, hey, can I ask you something?” you whispered.

Spencer’s mouth went dry. He knew what you were going to ask about. What else could you be asking about? “S-sure.”

“You’re the guy who’s good at identifying handwriting, right? Like matching it and stuff?”

His eyes flickered up, mouth opening and closing a few times before he settled on a nod. His mind swarmed with questions but none of them came out. He decided it might be best if he were silent, anyway.

“Great. Then can you help me out with” —you pulled the letter from your bag and handed it to Spencer— “this? I think I might have a secret admirer or something. Whoever it was either wanted to stay anonymous on purpose or forgot to sign their name. Either way, could you help me out?”

And that’s when Spencer started to blame Morgan for his terrible idea. Well, it wasn’t exactly his fault but Spencer couldn’t take the blame for something so embarrassing. There his letter was, his handwriting, his words, his admission, and he forgot to sign his name.

Spencer debated the logistics of admitting to his error; he wouldn’t have you pining over a mystery man, but then again he would be asking you out in real time. The whole point of the letter writing was to not see your face and if he told you he wrote it you could reject him straight to his face. He couldn’t deal with the thought of that. So Spencer, fear consuming him, shoved the letter back in your hands with a nonchalant shrug.

“Sorry, (Y/N/N), I don’t recognize the handwriting.”

“Oh,” you muttered, standing up. “That’s okay. Thanks for looking.”

And as you returned to your seat on the other end of the plane, a pit formed in your stomach. You were no profiler but you hoped you could have read Spencer better, seeing if he let on any signs the letter was his, that he liked you. But at that moment you had to push it aside. There was work to be done.

***

After a few days in the case, the team had a breakthrough. They had discovered all the women had been drugged and used a bargaining chip to lead the men back to their homes before getting killed. The unsub had been targeting wealthy couples at casinos and the only way the team could catch him is if he was drawn out of hiding. The whole explanation was a long winded way of Hotch telling you you needed to go undercover as Spencer’s wife.

You begged him to let Emily take your place but Hotch assured she would be better as a lone guest to cover your perimeter. Frowning, you explained you didn’t have any undercover experience but Hotch assured you you’d be fine, that the unsub would fall easily for your charade because of your close identification with the victim pool.

So there you were, in your hotel room sitting in a dress you didn’t care for with a wire far too uncomfortable running up the length of your sleeve. Your body thrummed with nerves so, in an attempt to calm down, you reached for the letter and reread it, practically having it memorized by now.

(Y/N),

I don’t normally do these sorts of things but you deserve these sorts of things— nice things. You deserve the best things. You deserve the things that make you happy, that make you smile, that make you laugh. You deserve all of that and more.

I’ve only known you for some time but I can safely say I’ve completely fallen for you. To be entirely honest, I don’t know how everyone here hasn’t as well. You have this gorgeous smile that makes everyone light up around you. Not to mention your laugh; it’s harmonic and encapsulating, like good music you never want to turn off.

I like you. A lot. And I know you’re too good for me but I can’t help but try. I get scared because people might see right through us— through me— and you’ll realize it, too, that you’re too good for me. 

But now isn’t the time to worry about the future (even though I may have a tendency to do so). I’m sorry for not being the best at words. And I’m sorry for not being able to say this to your face but I like you, (Y/N), and I want to go on a date with you.

You were sure you had the confidence to spur forward with the night.

You left your room, ready to knock on Spencer’s door when you heard hushed whispers coming from inside. From the sound of it, Spencer was trying to opt out of the night while Hotch was trying to convince him to stay.

“You’re the only one on this team that can play some convincing poker, Reid-”

“That’s not the point!” Spencer huffed. “It’s...it’s (Y/N). People might see right through us— through me— and they’ll realize she’s too good for me. They won’t buy it. Not when she looks like herself and I look like, well, me.”

Something about his words hung around in your head. It was disquieting. His words weren’t true, of course. He was everything you could’ve wanted and the sheer fact he didn’t see himself that way broke your heart. But it wasn’t just that, there was something else. Something hidden in his words triggering a memory in you.

You were pulled from your thoughts as Spencer and Hotch walked out of Spencer’s room, giving you curt smiles before leaving towards the undercover van outside.

***

Fortunately, the night went as planned. The unsub was apprehended and you managed to stay cool undercover. Mostly cool. Your head was up in the air for a bit as you tried to recall what exactly Spencer had said that reminded you of something. Spencer had to focus you back in a few times but didn’t think anything of your lack of focus. Or, at least, he didn’t say it.

The jet couldn’t leave until the next morning so the team was stuck overnight at the trashy little motel the bureau had paid for. You tossed and turned in your bed, unease settling in your stomach. You decided it might be best for you to read the letter again, seeing as how it brought you such comfort earlier. But the second you scanned the words, the realization hit you squarely in the face.

Disregarding the late hour and the fact you were in pajamas, you ran out of your room and up to Spencer’s knocking on the door with haste. Spencer also seemed to be awake, answering just as quickly as you knocked.

“(Y/N)?” His voice was gravelly and low, like he had been in and out of sleep. You bit back a grin at the adorable pajamas he wore: plaid flannel bottoms and a t-shirt reading “I LOVE LAS VEGAS!” in bright gold lettering. Spencer tracked your eyes roving over his body before clearing his throat to get your attention again. “What’re you doing up at 3:00-”

“I know you wrote the letter.”

You didn’t mean to blurt it out but you just...did. Spencer coughed awkwardly and avoided your stare, shaking his head.

“I don’t...I don’t know what you’re…”

“Spence,” you began, taking his hand in yours, “I overheard you and Hotch talking earlier, about how people would see right through us. It’s the same thing in the letter— nearly identical.”

Spencer, positive he was completely red in the face, muttered, “Must’ve been a coincidence.”

“But it wasn’t, because I know you, Spencer.” You sucked in a sharp breath, your heart pounding in your chest. “Because I like you, Spencer.”

Spencer cocked his head, a smile tugging at his lips like he didn’t want to believe what you said. “You...you like me?”

You took a step towards the doctor, locking your hands around the back of his neck with a chuckle. “Yeah, Spencer, I like you.”

Spencer reached a careful hand up, brushing your hair out of your eyes and running his knuckles down your cheek with an adoring smile before connecting your lips. The kiss was soft and unsure but worth exploring. As you began to deepen it, you heard a door click open from behind you.

“Nice pajamas, you two,” Rossi teased. Spencer glared at him over your shoulder for disrupting what was the most perfect kiss he ever had. Rossi chuckled, holding his hands up in defense. “I saw nothing!”

Rossi slipped back into his room, laughing to himself about the interruption. You tucked your head against Spencer’s chest, feeling him place a soft kiss against the top of your head while his arms looped around your back, pulling you impossibly tighter towards him.

“You know,” he began, his chest rumbling against your ear in the most comforting way, “I’m beginning to think I should be writing you more letters.”

“A few more couldn’t hurt.”

[dontshootmespence]

Pretty Boy Squared

Summary: When Spencer comes into the Bureau with a number of semi-visible hickeys, the team starts to tease him, not knowing that the one who gave him the hickeys is another member of the team.

Words: 1,168

Warnings: Making out, heavy touching, teasing of the sexual and nonsexual variety.

A/N: This was a request for a Spencer x Male!Reader fic where he left hickies on Spencer and the team teases him, not knowing who he’s seeing. Spencer gets a little cranky at all the teasing and corners his boyfriend in the bathroom to get a little revenge.

Without thinking, Spencer dragged his feet across the floor out of the elevator and traveled to his usual morning spot in the bullpen - the coffee area. He and Y/N had a long night the previous night, but in an effort to keep their relationship from the team, they came in separately. 

As Spencer poured the sugar into his coffee, using way more than any one man should, Morgan and Emily stumbled into the BAU, following the smell of badly made government coffee to where Spencer was standing. “Morning, Reid,” Emily mumbled, playfully nudging him in the side with her elbow so she can grab some coffee of her own. 

Reaching over Spencer’s hands, still trying to dissolve the crazy amount of sugar into his coffee, she grabbed the milk and then caught side of the inside of his wrist. “Woah, woah, woah,” she said quickly, instantly more awake than just a moment ago. “What is this?”

Spencer quickly tried to cover up the mark, which was thankfully a little less red than when he woke up this morning. “Nothing, it’s nothing.”

Of course, as soon as Emily brought attention to it, Morgan saw it too. “That’s now nothing. Pretty Ricky has a hickey. So who is it?”

“I decline to comment,” Spencer replied, ignoring eye contact and shuffling toward his desk with his coffee in hand. 

Shortly after they got settled at their desks, Hotch, Penelope, JJ, Rossi and Y/N arrived at work. Spencer did his best not to following the line of Y/N’s body toward his own desk, not wanting to give anything away to the rest of the team, but that didn’t stop them from seeing the hickey on his wrist and a lighter, older one just under his hairline. “Come on!” Garcia groaned. “Tell us their name at least! You deserve all the happiness and I need to know who’s making you so happy.”

“Awww, that’s sweet,” he replied with a soft laugh. “But nice try. Still not happening.”

JJ started to sing song, spinning around in her chair. “Spencer and someone sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

“Lots apparently,” Rossi added. 

Much to Spencer’s dismay, Y/N had to chime in too. I have to keep our cover, he texted. If I didn’t say something, they’d know immediately. You know they would.

Out of everyone else’s line of sight, Spencer rolled his eyes and Y/N and took the team’s teasing in stride for another few hours before he just couldn’t take it anymore, quickly devising a plan. Meet me in the bathroom when the rest of the team goes out to lunch, Spencer texted. 

When he got the message, he shot Spencer a quizzical look. But Spencer wouldn’t elaborate.

Just after 12:30, the Rossi, Hotch, Garcia, JJ, Emily and Morgan decided to go down the block to grab a slice of pizza for lunch, leaving Spencer and Y/N alone at their desks. Spencer stood up and pointed toward the bathroom the instant the elevator doors slid closed. “What’s up?” Y/N asked.

Casually, Spencer walked into the bathroom, ensuring that no one else was there before pushing Y/N into the stall and backing him up against the wall. “I’ve been getting teased all morning. So now I’m going to tease you and leave you all hot and bothered for the rest of the afternoon.”

“You’re mean,” Y/N laughed, arching his neck back as Spencer slid his lips down the column of his neck, settling at the crook of his neck and shoulders just below the collar of his shirt. “But I like mean,” he sighed, gliding his hands up Spencer’s back. He gasped as his cute lanky boyfriend began to suck at the spot on his neck that he loved so much, that they both loved so much. 

Spencer pursued his lips and sucked at Y/N’s skin, periodically rolling his tongue over the spot to sooth the blooming ache. 

“How long does it take for a hickey to form, Boy Genius?” Y/N whispered into Spencer’s ear.

Spencer stopped himself long enough to speak, but he wasn't about to let Y/N off the hook, sliding his hand down Y/N’s pants over his boxers, palming at his ever-hardening cock. “It differs from person to person,” he said, tonguing at Y/N’s mouth as he pressed him against the cool tile. “But typically between 20 and 30 seconds of continuous suction will do the trick. However, I know you and you don’t bruise as easily. You’re more like a minute. Now, let me do my work.”

“No more interruptions,” Y/N laughed huskily, attempting to keep his wits about him just in case anyone came into the bathroom. “Promise.”

Returning near to where he was before, Spencer slid his hands up Y/N’s arms and held them above his head, sucking and biting at the new spot for another minute or so before it became just too much for either of them. “I’m really going to get you back later,” Spencer laughed. 

“Oh, I’m quaking.” Y/N teased. “Now let’s get out of here before we get caught.”

----

After a way-too-quick lunch hour, everyone was back at their desks and trying to fight through the rest of the day. Near 3:30 or 4:00pm everyone, no matter the unit, would flood the coffee station again, looking for any kind of pick-me-up to get them through the rest of the day, and today was no different.

Wiping the sleep from his eyes, Y/N went to grab a cup of coffee with Hotch following closely behind. “Almost there, Y/N.”

“4:00 is such a bitch.”

Y/N’s frankness always made Hotch chuckle, but his laughter was cut off when he caught a glimpse of the younger man’s neck. “You okay?”

“Oh yea. I’m fine. I’m fine.” He spoke far too quickly. Hotch had to know he was lying, but at least he had the common courtesy to pretend he didn’t see anything. 

Morgan on the other hand not so much and somehow he’d popped up out of nowhere. “Did you have that this morning?” He asked. 

“What?”

“That big ass hickey on your neck. What do you mean what? Everyone’s getting hickeys around here.” Grabbing an energy drink from the refrigerator, he took a few steps before turning back toward Y/N. “You have a hickey...Spencer has a hickey...you didn’t have that this morning...”

“Don’t let your mind wander, Morgan.”

“I knew it!”

JJ’s head snapped back toward the two men who were walking back to their desks. “What?”

“Pretty Boy and Pretty Boy are dating! Y/N has a hickey too. He didn’t have it this morning.”

“Maybe I did,” Y/N interjected. “How would you know? You checking me out every morning?”

“Would you hate it if I was?” Morgan replied.

With that, Spencer couldn’t hold it anymore. The secret was already out. “Hey!” He said, pointing at Morgan and showing his wrist. “Yes, he gave me this. I gave him that. Stop hitting on my boyfriend!”

Morgan bowed before sitting at his desk. “I rest my case.”

@jamesgideonbane​

[quazartranslates]

Welcome to the Nightmare Game II - CH45

**This is an edited machine translation. For more information, please [click here]**

[<<< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >>>]

-----

Chapter 45: Star Death Reality Show (XXVIII)

His right hand slammed against the emergency close button, and his body rushed out with the instant acceleration from pushing off it. As if Qi Leren had thought about the plan in his mind for a long time, he opened a hand and threw a grenade behind him without looking, sprinted out like an arrow leaving the string, and repeated this old trick when he rounded the corner, throwing down another hand grenade!

Two consecutive explosions shook the corridor like a tottering boat. Qi Leren threw himself to the ground, feeling the turbulent heat flow from the corner and blow his hair into a mess.

He coughed twice on the ground, got up, and ran away again.

Leviathan didn't catch up, and Qi Leren who had already run to the floor where the arsenal was located finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The research institute was huge, and it would take "extraordinary luck" to run into that monster again. However, he didn’t know whether Leviathan had a sensitive sense of smell... Qi Leren looked back, and the world was immersed in a bright silence. This kind of terror hidden under the light was frightening.

He Yi had been parasitized by Leviathan, who was obviously Su He’s doing. He himself had said that he’d released the dangerous creature in the underground glacier. The octopus was similar to the alien queen in Aliens, much more difficult to deal with than the ordinary octopuses. What's more, it also had human intelligence... Hey, why did you listen attentively to He Yi just now and forget to smash his head?

Qi Leren walked on, and when he came to the corridor where the arsenal was located, he saw at a glance that Dr. Lu was poking around.

"Ah! Qi Leren! You’re still alive!" Dr. Lu excitedly ran out, "How is it on your side? Have you seen Su He?"

"Have you met Du Yue?" Qi Leren asked.

Du Yue also ran out of the arsenal and took Qi Leren's arm: "Qianbei! I thought you were going to die! Thank god! You can't die!"

Hey, what did this kid say? Qi Leren lamented Du Yue, who was too agitated and incoherent, and patted him on the shoulder in comfort.

"Why is that guy so stalker-ish?" Dr. Lu muttered with a bitter expression.

Qi Leren said with a straight face: "He can hear you."

Dr. Lu's face went white with fear, staring at him, looking overwhelmed.

"I’m just scaring you, he should be gone." Qi Leren pondered that Su He seemed to have too much free time. He was acting as both a prison guard and a Devil, and he also had a lot of beautiful subordinates. No matter how much he divided his time, he couldn’t do everything. He shouldn’t be idle enough to come here to peep at how a group of wannabes did in their task.

Dr. Lu was relieved and complained, "Don't scare me all the time."

Only Du Yue, who had never seen Su He, wondered: "Who is Su He?"

Dr. Lu quickly waved his hand: "A super terrible Devil, who is cruel, cunning, and ruthless, the worst in the universe! Your qianbei was killed by him before, and his death was miserable. You could say he’s a freak!"

Du Yue was taken aback: "So bad…"

Qi Leren, who had died miserably: "........"

"Yes, your qianbei's boyfriend is grief-stricken, and he’s still wandering the world, unaware that he’s still alive."

Du Yue was dumbfounded again: "Ah, my qianbei has a boyfriend? Isn't it a beautiful woman? Qianbei said that she was particularly beautiful!"

Dr. Lu looked at Qi Leren silently. Qi Leren, who had once talked with this youth about first loves while they were watching Annie, coughed twice: "Don't talk about this now, I have something very important to say: in the glancer beneath the institute..."

Forcibly changing the subject was successful. Qi Leren locked the door of the arsenal, briefly explained the previous events, and skipped a lot of things. He only told the two people about Su He's saying that he had released Leviathan from the underground glacier, and told them about his previous fight with the monster.

"We need a temperature below minus forty degrees? Awesome, our temperature regulating clothes only guarantee that we won't lose heat in environments above minus 30 degrees. Once the temperature drops below minus 30, we won't last long, and even worse when it reaches minus 40. If you cool down that much, you may as well sign your will. To tell the truth, it's quite amazing that you can still insist on not wearing gloves..." Dr. Lu looked at Qi Leren's bare hands and then at his own hands in thick gloves and couldn't help showing envious eyes.

Qi Leren moved his fingers. Although he was cold, he wasn’t frozen. He had good resistance to cold now, otherwise he probably wouldn’t have escaped just now.

"I can't think of a way to deal with it now." Qi Leren walked around the arsenal to find the weapons he needed. "Shall we set a trap and blow it up here?"

"You can try, but if there’s an explosion in the arsenal...……S/L Data can't save you from the fire after the explosion," Dr. Lu worried.

There were indeed difficulties. There were too many explosives in the arsenal. If the explosion lasted for several seconds, even if he saved here, the resurrected Qi Leren would still be blown to pieces.

"What should we do then?" Du Yue looked sad.

Qi Leren was also depressed, and he had to worry about another question: "How much private time do you have left?"

"This is reset at 8:00 every morning...I only have half an hour left." Dr. Lu was even more sad.

"Me too." Du Yue was also worried.

Qi Leren looked at his privacy time that was less than half an hour, which was also a headache.

After the privacy time ran out, the invisible camera that followed him would ignore his instructions and shoot him from 360 degrees without any privacy. In this way, he could neither use unscientific skill cards indiscriminately nor discuss things with Dr. Lu.

If only this thing had been blown up when Mark blasted it with a rocket launcher... Unfortunately, he had used the "Prophet's Heart" at that time and he was unscathed. Sadly, even the camera was preserved.

"Where are the others?" Qi Leren asked Du Yue.

"They ran away, and then I only met Dr. Lu," Du Yue said sullenly.

"Don't worry about them, you can't stop them from dying." Dr. Lu squatted on the ground heartlessly. "Think about how to get home alive first. By now, this task is definitely not C-level. We might say there is also an A. This Leviathan looks much more difficult than the crazy lady of B-level. "

Of course, Qi Leren thought. This Leviathan was released by Su He in order to force him to level up. However, now he didn't even know what the principle of a half-field was, because his teacher Chen Baiqi hadn't expected him, a loser student, to break his shell. In her prediction, this wouldn't happen for a long time.

The plan couldn’t keep up with the changes

"Let’s think about it again... This amphioctopus is intelligent, strong defensively, fast, and aggressive... I’m afraid it’s also very strong, and ordinary weapons can't handle it. I’ll try the rocket launcher next time." Qi Leren was also very worried about this weapon that he had never used before. There was no instruction manual for weapons here, and Chen Baiqi had never taught him how to use it.

Dr. Lu and Du Yue looked at him with eyes full of doubts.

Qi Leren coughed: "Let’s think of another plan, I don't think this is foolproof."

Qi Leren’s biggest reliance was the Prophet's Heart given to him by the Prophet, but the cooldown time of this item was as long as 24 hours. To try to wait for this to finish its cooldown, Qi Leren didn't think they could spend 20 hours safely.

Then what else can I do...

Glacier.

Underground glacier.

This word jumped into Qi Leren's mind without warning, and he suddenly remembered what He Yi had said before he died: "...Even if it’s frozen in the extremely cold environment of minus 40 degrees, it will not die, but will only go to sleep. It’s like the amphioctopuses’ soldier ant, and its fighting capacity far exceeds that of the workers. Leviathan is different from the ordinary octopuses. As long as it senses the approach of living creatures, it will be forcibly thawed..."

He Yi wanted to express the danger of Leviathan, but if you thought about it carefully, wasn't this its weakness?

40 degrees below zero wouldn’t kill it, but it would go to sleep. If he could lead it back to the underground glacier and then escape quickly, so that Leviathan, that couldn't sense the biological atmosphere around it, went to sleep, then he could wait for the Prophet's Heart to cool down before going back and killing it.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this may be the only way.

"I have an idea," Qi Leren said into the silence. "The danger of confronting it is too great. My idea is that I’ll lure it into the underground glacier and let it return to its dormant state again."

Then Qi Leren explained his reasons, and discussed specific measures with Dr. Lu and Du Yue. The biggest problem was that Leviathan has intelligence, and it was difficult to set traps for it.

"We haven't been to the underground glacier. I don't know what the terrain is like. If it’s an underground crevasse or a huge underground lake, even you will be in danger. Why don't we try the laser corridor, surely it isn’t stronger than steel plates?" Dr. Lu also had an idea.

Du Yue nodded at the side: "Yes qianbei, it’s too dangerous for you to lure it to the underground glacier."

"He Yi knew about the laser corridor, and that I can pass through it. It would be difficult to lead it into that trap... But it reminds me that we need to find the others. After making sure that they haven’t been infected by the octopuses, I want to send them out of the research institute first, and then re-seal the basement of Annie's house. If they’re running around here, they could easily be killed by Leviathan," Qi Leren said.

The corner of Dr. Lu’s mouth twitched: "I think they aren’t already done for."

It was hard for Qi Leren to refute.

"But if you want to lure it to the underground glacier, will it be fooled?" Du Yue asked.

Qi Leren tried to maintain a strong smile: "Yes."

Only on this point, Qi Leren had full confidence. He would be able to taunt the monster’s ire towards him. As long as the laser corridor trap wasn’t in front of it, this monster would be like the most loyal boyfriend, only watching him in a crowd, abandoning all temptations and running towards him.

The two EX lucks, Dr. Lu and Du Yue, were just like wild flowers and weeds on the roadside, which were ignored by this single-minded monster.

This kind of thing had happened so many times that Qi Leren was used to it.

Time passed by, and there was only ten minutes left in Qi Leren's privacy time. The three people discussed how to explain it to the audience later, and unanimously recommended that Dr. Lu pretend to be the anchor, so that he could think of his lines quickly.

Dr. Lu wore a tearful expression as he auditioned:

Ladies and gentlemen of the audience, I have bad news. Just now, XXX went crazy, together with XXXX. Then they were all killed by Qi Leren and God. This god-like Qi Leren is neither a special soldier of the military nor an interstellar mercenary. Please believe that he is just an actor... Oh no, a lead singer of a tone-deaf band. Next, the lead singer of the strongest band in history is going to fight the boss. Please look forward to it.

"You really seem like a default actor. Come on, is this filming?" Anchor Lu said with disgust.

The heavy-hearted Qi Leren was not in the mood to make jokes and rolled his eyes.

He didn't want to waste any more time, so he could quickly took care of Leviathan and then set off for Ning Zhou in Purgatory.

Qi Leren pondered it. He could only use Save/Load now. Secretly Observing and Rain Day Laundry were cooling down alongside Prophet’s Heart. There were still Pleasing Rations left, but according to his experience, this monster was not in the range of creatures that could be bought off.

Then there were these weapons. Qi Leren picked up a rocket launcher and weighed it on his shoulder. Dr. Lu opened his mouth and said, "Wow, have you used that?"

"No, but I was shot at with one and hit straight on," Qi Leren said.

Dr. Lu looked at him with an expression of "I know you’re acting, but for the sake of friendship, I will barely cooperate with you." Only Du Yue, who was stupid, sincerely praised: "Qianbei is so powerful!"

Qi Leren glanced at the time. It was the early morning of the fifth day. Let's make it quick.

Dr. Lu considered his physical condition and suggested that Qi Leren rest for a few hours to refresh himself. Anyway, the door to the weapons room had been locked by him, so there was no need to worry about Leviathan breaking in.

In the past, Qi Leren might have thought about it, but now he was full of thoughts about Ning Zhou and refused this proposal.

Dr. Lu sighed: "Well, suit yourself. In fact, I’ve thought about waiting in this arsenal until the army arrives and rescues me. Either way, it can't get in."

Qi Leren was not so optimistic. The monster would come up with a way to break into the room sooner or later. Here, he could only wait to die, and...

Suddenly there was a slight noise above his head, as if something was crawling in a pipe. The three men looked up and looked at the metal ceiling above their heads, and fell into a strange silence.

Qi Leren suddenly thought of a problem.

The air of this large underground research institute was unexpectedly clean, and there was no staleness of air being trapped. Its exhaust facilities were obviously operational.

Qi Leren's eyes turned to the vents in the corner of the ceiling. There was a metal shutter one meter square. It seemed that the sound of something crawling had come from there!

-----

[<<< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >>>]

[inimoo]

Operation: Eradicate the Homoerotic Energy Between Our Dads

Chapter 1 - The Phone Call Chapter 2 - Sam, Henry, Clara, and William Chapter 3 - Aunt Jen's Letters Chapter 4 - Caught in the Act Chapter 5 - Graduation Chapter 6 - Planes and Cars Chapter 7 - Wrinkled Polaroids Chapter 8 - "I'll have your babies Charlie. Platonically." Chapter 9 - A Tree Room Chapter 10 - Blueprints from 1968 Chapter 11 - Samantha Adeline Rogers

Summary: Michael overhears his father calling Uncle Henry 'babygirl' and is mortified to a point where he enlists the help of his best friend Charlie to attempt to eradicate all forms of sexually charged tension between their dads.

In hindsight, they probably should've just let them makeout.

Michael is acutely aware of Charlie draped on top of him, her arms under him and her legs wrapped around his hips. They’ve had sleepovers before obviously - a very very long time ago before Sammy died. All three of them would snuggle together for body heat in a little dogpile of 9-year-olds until one of their parents would force them to get up.

It’s not like he minds the position, it’s just that he can’t fucking breathe. Her hair is covering his airways and she’s drooling on his shirt drenching it in a puddle saliva.

A wonderful way to start the day.

The golden rays of the early sunshine onto the two of them. Both of them look terrible in the morning but she somehow doesn’t look too bad this time despite her openly drooling ontop of him. He doesn’t know when he wrapped his arms around her but he is.

He yawns and removes his hold on her to get rid of her hair and stretch his arms as a sigh leaves his lips. His hips raise a few inches and Charlie stirs. She looks up through bleary eyes at him as his body clenches and stills, stretching his muscles before loosening and falling limp.

“I’m not getting up.” she mutters quietly against his chest.

Michael considers getting up himself, he glances at the clock that hung on the wall of her unnecessarily pink room and sees that it’s 6:30. He decides against it.

“I’m not either,” he tells her, his head flopping back onto the pillow under him and closes his eyes. Charlie’s asleep again in an instant - she was always a deep sleeper, something that he was very jealous of. It takes him hours to get tired and he always wakes up late because of it which then means that William gets a call from school and then he has to deal with that.

Five minutes pass. He opens his eyes to check the time and bolts upright making Charlie roll with a groan. He throws the pink blankets off of him and runs his hands through his brown hair as he curses repeatedly, opening up the window and swinging his legs outside. It’s 7 AM.

His blood runs cold when he hears the click of the door opening and he thinks he might fall off when the face of Henry Emily appears in the doorway. Charlie’s still fast asleep, face planted into her mattress blissfully ignorant of the staring contest going on between the two men.

Henry doesn’t hate Michael much to the displeasure of William who has a strange rivalry going on with Charlie. Even after their falling out he invites Michael over for dinner whenever they’re not busy and he accepts every time. So really, this situation shouldn’t be as scary as it is.

Except for the fact that he’s in his teenage daughter’s room. Messy hair, rumpled clothes and nothing but his shorts and tank top on.

Michael tries to raise his hands to defend himself but he realizes that his grip on the edge of the window and the rope attached to Charlie’s window is the only thing stopping him from falling 20 feet so he just starts to speak.

“Listen I know this looks really bad but all we were doing was talking but it was 1in the morning and my dad locks everything at midnight so Charlie told me to sleep over and I swear to god that we were just sleeping and not anything else please don’t hate me Uncle Henry I didn’t do anything with your daughter you can even ask her.”

He says all this with a very quick, high-pitched voice with no pauses in between in hopes that he wouldn’t get interrupted. Henry blinks. He opens his mouth to say something but closes it just as quickly.

“Michael,” Charlie groans from the bed as she rolls around, her eyes still closed tightly. Both men turn their attention to them, “Why the fuck are you yelling so early in the-”

Her green eyes land on her dad and she gapes.

“Oh,” she breathes, “Hi dad.”

Henry leaves the room after a small gentle lecture about inviting people over and then making them leave through the window is honestly very suspicious. After he goes downstairs to make breakfast the two of them look at each other, then look away blushing red. Charlie lets out a small chuckle into her knees. Michael quickly follows suit and soon they were both cackling openly into the early morning air.

“I’m sorry,” Michael tells her, a wide grin on his face as an aftertaste to the laughter. “I’m sorry Charlie.”

She laughs, “No this is simultaneously the worst and best way I’ve woken up in ages.” Charlie gets up, rubbing her eyes as she trudges to her washroom. “Go downstairs, dad makes really good pancakes on Fridays.”

-

She’s right, Henry Emily is the god of pancakes. Michael feels even more euphoria stuffing his face with the fluffy, delicate miniature form of whatever the hell a massage given to you by angels probably feels like than when he eats pizza and that’s saying a lot. Henry watches him in amusement from across the dinner table and he’s too hungry to even use his proper table manners that his parents forced into him.

“Are they starving you over there?” he chuckles, putting his glasses onto his face as he slides into the wooden chair.

“Sorry.” Michael says. He apologizes a lot, even when it’s not needed. “You make really good food Uncle Henry.”

“There’s no need to apologize Mike.” Henry tells him, stabbing his pancake with his fork, “You’re always welcome here.”

Michael laughs, “I’d come over more often if Father would let me - you’re a lot more chill than him.”

Henry’s lips press together at the mention of William and he breathes out his nose, “Michael,” he starts, “You’re doing fine over there, right?”

He pauses, then he looks up. Henry’s staring at him with an intent, concerned look. “Um, yeah. I’m fine.”

Michael’s not really sure what ‘not fine’ would be considered. He wasn’t getting hurt - at least, physically he was okay. Mentally he probably could’ve been doing better. William doesn’t yell that much, not because he was soft spoken, it was because he didn’t have to yell to get Michael’s attention. His very presence was menacing enough, it wrapped itself around his neck and made his throat go dry when he returns home. It’s even worse when he knows he’s in a bad mood.

At least he’s not hitting me.

Michael never really took his feelings seriously.

Henry interrupts his thinking. “So, Michael, why were you in Charlie’s room this morning?”

“Hm?” He pretends he doesn’t hear, the tips of his ears blushing red and a pit of embarrassment pooling in his stomach. It was only funny because it was so absurd and Charlie’s laugh was infectuous but looking back, he wanted to die.

“Why weren’t you at home this morning?” he repeats and Michael wants to crawl into a hole and perish.

“Uh, we were just talking. About. Stuff.”

Nice save Mike.

Before Henry can answer he decides to change the topic to avoid death by embarrassment, “Um, Uncle Henry - where did you meet Charlie’s mom?”

Michael really needs to learn how to shut up. This conversation was like, a hundred times worse than the last one.

Henry blinks, then he tilts his head like he needs to absorb the ridiculousness of the question before answering. “We met - well,” he scratches his head, “I don’t remember how we met. We kind of just… always knew each other. I can’t remember a moment of my life before I knew Sam.”

Michael nods, “How’d you start dating?”

Henry goes red and bites his lip as he closes his eyes at the question. Michael frowns. “We never dated, actually.”

“Then how did - Oh!” Michael gasps, “Oh - that’s - oh, well, um.” He smiles awkwardly, “That was rude - I’m sorry for asking.”

Despite the blush that formed on his cheeks, Henry found it in himself to laugh at the boy’s reaction. “It’s fine my boy - it was years ago and we were both stupid.”  “And drunk.” Henry mutters under his breath as he reaches for the orange juice beside him but Michael thankfully doesn’t catch it.

Michael knows maybe three things about how is father and mother met. She admittedly despised his guts for a good couple of months according to Henry and his father was set on one upping her by making her fall for him. He didn’t actually have any feelings for her until about 8 months later. Michael finds it hard to believe that such a gentle person like his mother would ever fall for his dad. It’s even more confusing that his father actually fell in love with someone.

Michael doesn’t really remember much about his mother. He was 11 when she died of her illness and the memories he had of her - though all of them were good - were slowly seeping out of his mind like water in cupped hands, slipping through the cracks until there was nothing left. There are pictures of her on the walls and Henry always told him anything he wanted to know but he felt a type of self hatred when he realized he can’t remember her laugh, or the precise colour of her eyes, or the words she taught him in Spanish. Elizabeth looked almost exactly like her; her strawberry blonde hair, the green of her eyes and her toothy smile were all traits passed down from their mother. She’s dead too now, so he can’t remember as much as he’d like.

Evan, he remembers, was the perfect combination of his parents. He had his father’s dark hair and blue eyes but his mother’s soft gaze and soft features.  Michael looks like his father. Exactly like him, actually. It drove him insane.

Charlie’s footsteps thunder down the stairs with a newfound speed. Her hair is wrapped in a towel and she’s wearing a discarded t-shirt that she found on her bed with biker shorts; all in all, she looks very intense for breakfast.

He barely has time to look at her before she grabs him by the shoulder and drags him out of his chair with a yelp into the living room as Henry watches him. Michael looks up at her in disbelief at the firm group she had on his arm; he knew she was strong but this girl was some kind of superhuman despite being half a foot shorter than him (which honestly makes her quite tall seeing as he was 6’2)

She shoves him onto the floral couch, he lands with an ‘oomph’ and stares at her incredulously.

“Okay, first of all, that was really fucking rude of you-”

“Shut up pretty boy,” she interrupts him taking out a chunky wooden box from god knows where and holding it up, “Have you met my aunt?”

Michael squints in bewilderment at the sudden interrogation, “What? No?”

“I wouldn’t blame you - sometimes I forget about her too.” Michael frowns at that.

“How do you forget about your aunt?” he asks slowly.

“Because I’ve never met her either,” she answers simply, opening the box to reveal a collection of papers and photos with a woman on it, “She’s only ever sent me postcards and letters. And I mean, she sounds cool and stuff but like, I’m seventeen years old and I’ve never seen her in person before.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“I’m getting to that - let me speak Mike,” Charlie rolls her eyes and Michael gapes at her in indignation, “Fun fact about Aunt Jen: she lives in California and she’s wanted me to come over since foreverso,” she makes eye-contact with him with a winning smile, “I think we have our ticket to stopping our dads from getting together.”

Michael’s mouth twists into a grin and he gets up to embrace Charlie in a bear hug, hand on her neck as he squeezes her body. “I’m so glad you’re a nerd.”

Charlie slaps his forehead in response. “ One of us has to be.”

[blouisparadise]

Here are some great bottom Louis fics that were posted or completed during the month of June. We really hope you enjoy this list. Happy reading!

1) Until You’re Home | Explicit | 1039 words

Louis lives in London, Harry lives in Tokyo. They make it work.

2) He Holds My Paradise | Mature | 1332 words 

“What is it that you want, baby?”

“Your dick” Louis breaths out, choking on his own words, neck still covered by his boyfriend’s hand.

“And where do you want it, baby?” the Devil asks him, a satisfied smirk painting his lips. “in my pussy, please.”

3) Morning | Explicit | 1428 words 

Harry and Louis wake up and have a 'productive' morning in the shower ;)

4) Let's Go To The Beach | General Audiences | 1489 words 

Note: This fic contains no explicit smut, but since it’s omega Louis, we’ve included it. This is a sequel. Part one of this fic is #6 on this list. 

"Louis," Harry repeated.

"Right," Louis sighed. "He tried to scent me."

or the one where Louis has a meeting with an aggressive alpha and Harry calms Louis down.

5) Sweet Relief, Pretty Please | Not Rated | 1840 words 

Louis is drunk, sad and alone, and Harry is a wanker.

6) Hey Moon, Don't You Fall Down | Mature | 2574 words 

Note: The sequel to this fic is #4 on this list. 

"Make me yours," Louis opened his eyes and put his hands on Harry's shoulders. "I'm ready, alpha, always been ready for you. Since the first day we met, I was yours. Please," Louis gasped as Harry slid his fingers out of him.

or the one where Harry and Louis finally bond.

7) Nothing Like Anything | Explicit | 2614 words 

Harry is bored of his frat parties. No one interesting comes anyway.It's always drunk people, grinding in the living room, strangers trying to catch his eye. He's about to leave, just to ease his pounding head when he sees him, sinful on the dance floor and suddenly the party isn't so bad.

8) Over Exposed - Part Two| Explicit | 2840 words

Note: This fic is a sequel to this fic.

Harry and Louis take a quick break from Harry's tour to attend the VMAs, then have a night out at a club.

9) Sweet Vanilla Cream | Explicit | 2896 words 

Harry fights to resist his roommate's new omega boyfriend, Louis. Louis maybe doesn't want him to resist.

10) Take Off Your Glasses | Mature | 3742 words

Louis was enjoying his time, as he decided to spend his weekend clubbing, Louis knows no one in there, yet someone wanted to mess with him to know who's Louis the attractive boy in the black skirt.

"It’s Louie.. Sir."

11) Rose’s Fortune | Mature | 5055 words 

Note: This fic contains no explicit smut but since it’s a/b/o we’ve decided to include it in this monthly roundup.

Omega Louis takes one of his siblings to the doctors (check up, possible broken bone or possibly injections?) and the new Dr is Alpha Harry. Harry is great with kids and Louis is smitten. Harry is smitten too but attempts to act professionally and keep his distance whenever Louis visits the Drs with his siblings or to pick up his prescriptions. But Harry realises there is no reason for him not to make a move as Louis isn't under his care.

12) Dare You To Move | Not Rated | 6060 words 

The one where Harry falls in love with the omega who is the brain behind the omega march he joined.

13) Savage Garden’s Song Rules Sometimes (While Yours Always Reign Supreme) | Explicit | 6261 words 

Note: This fic is a sequel to this fic.

The morning after one too many nights of isolation for Louis Tomlinson and his hot & dangerous boy.

Aka how insanely adorkable Harry Styles could be after a sulking episode. [wordplay edition]

14) I Can Feel Your Blood Pressure Rise | Explicit | 9292 words 

"Hello, your Highness," Harry heard a familiar voice coming from behind him. Chills ran down his body as he felt the coldness of something sharp poke the back of his neck, "Turn around slowly or I'll hurt you,” the voice said in a teasing tone.

Where Louis is some sort of Robin Hood and sneaks into the King's castle, only to be fucked hard.

15) You Know What They Say | Explicit | 10323 words 

Nice guys always finish last.

16) Teenage Dream | Explicit | 10333 words

Harry and Louis get reintroduced to each other by their friends. It’s an instant connection. Now they’ve just gotta get to know each other.

17) Move So Petty (You're All I See) | Explicit | 10548 words 

Harry’s pretty content with his life. He loves his job- a veterinarian at a local clinic who’s already built up a name for himself despite his young age. He loves his gorgeous flat with its wide, open space and minimalistic, yet still homey feel. He loves his family who he talks to and visits as much as possible, not bothered by the long hours of driving to Holmes Chapel from London he endures multiple times a month. He loves his friends and his coworkers and his neighbors- especially Allison, the little old lady next door who brings him and Louis cookies on holidays and who always comments on how “strong and handsome you are, Mr. Styles,” everytime he sees her.

And most importantly, he loves Louis, just- maybe in a slightly different way.

18) When Tomorrow Comes | Explicit | 11111 words 

The one where Louis is an Omega who has been keeping himself pure for his Alpha, Harry is a traditional Alpha focusing on his studies while he waits to find his bondmate, and Niall is a sneaky bastard who keeps borrowing Louis’ clothes and never returning them.

19) Smells Like Omega Spirit | Not Rated | 11769 words 

Note: This fic contains no explicit smut, but since it’s omega Louis, we’ve included it.

Louis is an omega doing a test run on neutralizers for a class project. Every time he talks to Harry he smells completely different.

Harry is an alpha who can't figure out if he's going crazy or his sense of smell is broken, but all he wants to figure out what Louis' real scent is.

Somehow they figure it out.

20) You Kill My Mind | Explicit | 13181 words 

Harry has always been ashamed to reveal his kinks to friends and partners alike. One day he meets a man who seems perfectly designed for him and they embark on a wonderful, sex-filled exploration journey.

21) In The Heat Of The Moment | Mature | 15743 words 

When Louis unexpectedly goes into heat in maths class it takes him way too long to figure out why (it might have something to do with a certain curly haired boy sitting next to him).

22) Was In No Hurry, Had No Worries | Explicit | 21485 words 

The year is 1999 and Harry can’t stop dedicating songs to Louis on the radio. Or the one where Harry hits Louis with his car.

23) You're The Smell Before Rain, You're The Blood In My Veins | Explicit | 21945 words 

“It was him you talked about, when you used to call me late at night, saying you were missing your ex? Was it him, your important five-year long story? Was it him the person you had thought about proposing, one day?” Nick asks with a low voice, almost inaudible, almost like he’s talking to himself “He’s my boyfriend…” he whispers again, without looking up.

“I know! And you shouldn’t worry, because you don’t have a single reason to do so. He’s yours now, he’s with you. I really don’t understand why you came here, honestly” Harry says defending himself out of instinct, even if he has no reason to react like that. He just- just wishes for Nick to leave his room and go back home to Louis. Because at this point Nick has Louis and fuck, why can’t he just go fuck off for once? Doesn’t he have enough shit do deal with already? Does he really need to get into this as well? Right now?

24) Like The Earth Around The Sun | Explicit | 23600 words 

The one where Harry bursts in on Louis in heat and things only get more complicated from there.

25) The Blood of Love | Explicit | 25273 words 

Harry is a nurse and Louis is a painting worth more than a thousand words. As desire and darkness encompasses him, Harry has to learn the secrets of Thorne Hills manor before he succumbs to the mystery that surrounds him.

26) Habit | Teen & Up | 27095 words 

In which Louis is a Donna who has a soft spot for alpha Harry.

27) Let Me Carry Your Weight | Explicit | 28633 words 

Louis is fresh out of a bad relationship with someone who made him feel awful about how he looked. on his journey to better himself, he meets harry - the ridiculously attractive and fit personal trainer.

28) Robbers And Cowards | Explicit | 33237 words 

A modern day Robin Hood AU where Louis and Harry (don’t really) hate each other but they hate greedy billionaires more.

29) Caves End | Explicit | 39711 words 

The one where Harry has lost his future, Louis has lost his past, but maybe together, they can find a way through the dark.

30) Soaked In The Blood Of Angels | Explicit | 40867 words 

The boy looks drugged, caught between a man who’s almost twice his size and a girl who looks like she wouldn’t even break a sweat snapping him in half despite her small stature, eyes closed and mouth open as he pants, arching up between them almost as if he’s trying to escape.

Normally, Harry would ignore it and continue on his search for someone to drink from, someone who wouldn’t mind his sharp teeth and rough hands. He’s seen plenty of boys like this one, ones who picked the wrong playmates, and if he stopped to rescue every single one of them he would have died from thirst a long time ago.

This one, though. There’s something about this one, the sheen of his bright blue eyes as he blinks slowly, looks around as though he doesn’t know where he is, the weakness of his hands as he tries to push the girl off of him and make his escape.

31) With Stars Of Brightest Gold | Explicit | 41109 words 

Louis Tomlinson is the premier courtesan at the Moulin Rouge. In his dreams, he has always wanted to be a famous stage actor. Locked into his contract, he has little means of escape until a handsome duke promises him freedom with a romantic alliance. Due to a case of mistaken identity playwright Harry Styles is thrown into the mix, compelling Louis to choose between his head or his heart.

32) We Both Got Nothing To Hide | Explicit | 43811 words 

Omega Louis has a secret nest. Alpha Harry keeps losing his clothes.

33) In A World Alone | Explicit | 50787 words 

Harry’s breath catches as the glow grows bigger and bigger until he’s squinting his eyes and blinking at the sudden intense brightness. He closes his eyes, rubbing at them helplessly. When his eyes open again- he gasps, grip loosening on his bow as he gawks at the sight before him.

Because the swan is gone.

And in its place is the prettiest omega Harry has ever seen.

A Swan Lake AU.

34) Hunting Ground | Not Rated | 583658 words 

Note: This fic is the third part of a series. Part two is #38 in this list.

Louis Tomlinson didn’t know how complicated life could be until he became a werewolf. And until he was mated to Harry Styles, the son — and enforcer — of Liam, the leader of the North American werewolves, he didn’t know how dangerous it could be either...

Louis and Harry have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Liam's controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan — and it seems like someone else might be too. When Louis is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Harry and Louis must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all — or risk losing everything.

35) The Wrath of the Emerald Eyes | Mature | 85205 words 

His chin is grabbed harshly, facing the two deep green eyes that have been getting on his nerves for the past ten minutes. The smirk on the man's face does not vanish. The grip of his hand on Louis' chin does not soften, his thumb at the side of his lower lip.

His smile widens as he answers Louis' question, ''My name is Styles, but you will call me Captain."

Pirate AU.

36) Cry Wolf | Not Rated | 85205 words 

Note: This fic is the second part of a series. Part three is #36 in this list.

Louis never knew werewolves existed, until the night he survived a violent attack... and became one himself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, he'd learned to keep his head down and never, ever trust dominant wolves. Then Harry Styles, the enforcer—and son—of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into his life.

Harry insists that not only is Louis his mate, but he is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Louis' inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as he and Harry go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf—a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

You can find other monthly roundup fic rec lists here.

[what-is-your-plan-today]

Riding On  Ch4: Full Steeb Ahead

Summary: Frank is determined to get Fliss to hear him out. But will she believe him?

Warnings: Bad Language words.

Pairing: Frank Adler x Fliss Gallagher

A/N: Hopefully after this @sweater-daddiesdumbdork will stop chasing me. As always, thanks to my unofficial beta @icanfeelastormbrewing​ for the usual inputs and opinions.  Chapter Song: Man Who Can’t Be Moved by The Script

Series Masterlist //  WIYPT Masterlist

People talk about the guy that’s waiting on a girl. There are no holes in his shoes but a big hole in his world.

Frank woke early the next morning, well, maybe woke was an exaggeration seeing as he probably managed about an hour of straight sleep, if that. The rest was spent in small dozing periods of 20, maybe 30 minutes at a time.  His neck was stiff from laying on the couch, as was his back and deciding he would give up trying to get comfortable he sat up, stretching his muscles out before he ran a hand down his tired face.

It was still dark outside and he reached for his phone. It had just gone 6 am, which meant he had an hour or so before the house started to wake. Standing up, he grabbed the shirt he had discarded the night before and shoving it on he located his sneakers. Once they were on his feet he grabbed his keys and as quietly as he could let himself out of the house, locking the door behind him as he headed down the little pathway which led to the main one through their little estate.

He walked down past the harbour and the little garages which were starting to open, nodding to a few of the guys he used to see knocking around when he had worked there, continuing past the little row of bait and tackle shops, past the small café, before he reached the path that led along the rocky sea defence. He followed the sandy pathway down to the boardwalk along the beach and continued for as long as he could, his feet treading over the well-worn wooden slats, some of which were loose in places, before it ended and he hit the soft sand. He headed onto the beach, it was almost deserted apart from a few early morning dog walkers, which suited him fine.

The ocean always calmed him. He had no idea why, but it had done ever since he was a kid. He’d adored those family holidays taken before it all went to rat shit, memories of him, his father and his sister playing on the sand whilst his mother read a book shaded by a parasol, every so often looking up to observe what was going on before returning back to whatever latest theory she was reading up on.  And then at night, they would eat with a family, late walks on the beach were always a treat, watching the dark water as it lapped against the shore, his dad making up random tales about Peg Legged Pirates searching for treasure which was always buried not far from where they were stood.

He’d done the same with Mary, telling her the same tales he could remember and making up new ones when he couldn’t. She didn’t buy them anymore, she was far too old for her age, but he couldn’t wait to tell them to Bean when he or she arrived, see their little face light up as they glanced over the ocean searching for ghostly ships or dug in the sand for imaginary treasure.

He reached the water’s edge and looked out at the horizon for a few minutes taking in the detail of the sky which was lit up in hues of purple and orange as the sun hovered a few meters or so above the place where the sea hit the sky and he took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind. He was in a mess, a mess that was entirely his own doing, and he felt utterly powerless to fix it. If he couldn’t get Fliss to listen to him…well, he didn’t even want to think about that. But the more he tried not to, the more he did. He couldn’t lose her, not over some stupid misunderstanding like this. Pinching the bridge of his nose in an attempt to ease the tension headache that was already forming behind his eyes, not helped by the lack of sleep, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to re-centre himself. He finally had everything he hadn't even realised he needed and losing it was not an option. He had to fix this. With one last deep breath he turned to take the 15 minutes or so walk back home.

The house was still quiet when he got back in but he could hear the sounds of the shower meaning Fliss was up. He headed into the bedroom, Thor raising his head from where he was led on the bed, and he bent over to give the dog a scratch behind the ear. He pulled out a clean pair of jeans, a T-shirt and a pair of boxers, tossing them down on the pale blue bed covers, his head turning to face Fliss as she walked into the room, towel wrapped around her, hair piled in a messy bun on her head. His heart gave an instant pang as he took in how tired she looked, the guilt flooding over him as he knew it was his fault.

“Where did you go?” she asked him, her voice soft. “I heard the door.”

“For a walk.” he said, “Just to the beach. Needed some air.”

She looked at him for a moment before she nodded and moved to the dresser to pull out her clothes for the day.

“Can we talk?” he asked her tentatively and she stopped, straightening up before she looked at him.

“I told you last night, I’ve nothing to say.”

“No, but I have.” he pressed, “Lissy please…just hear me out, let me explain.”

She licked her lips and took a deep breath before she sighed “Fine, when Mary’s gone to school. But I have clients at 9 and I need to pick Rupert up so I’m leaving here at 8:15 no later.”

“Ok.” he nodded, giving her a small smile before he headed into the bathroom for a shower.

Breakfast was a little subdued, but he had to give Fliss her credit. She was polite and civil to him, even if she wasn’t affectionate. But it didn’t fool Mary. She asked him as he walked her down to the bus stop what was going on, and not being one to lie to her, he told her truthfully that he’d been an idiot over the weekend and needed to apologise to Fliss. At that she shot him a filthy look.

“You better fix things or I will kill you and hate you forever.” she said before she turned and stormed towards the waiting bus.

You and me both, Short Stack.

When he got back Fliss was waiting for him like she said she would be, sat at the table. She looked at him as he sat on the seat at the end, so he was to her right and facing her. She glanced at her watch “You got 15 minutes.” “Lissy, those photos…” Frank dove straight in, he had not time to waste and even if he did, he didn’t want to. This was eating him up inside “I know they look bad…”

“No shit sherlock…”

“I swear to God, nothing happened.”

“Nothing happened.” She repeated, looking at him and he shook his head.

“Nothing.”

“Then how the fuck did she end up on your knee Frank?”

He took a deep breath “In all honestly I only know from what Simon and Greg told me.” he said, “I was drunk, I’d already pushed her away earlier in the night and she came over with her friends, one of them was getting into one of the guys Jake works with and she just sat on my knee. Apparently it took me a while but in the end I told her to get lost. I was quite rude to her, so they say.”

“You look fairly comfortable with her on your lap in the photo.” Fliss said after a moment, her voice quiet. The hurt in her tone made Frank feel even more like shit, as she wasn’t screaming or shouting which to be honest he was fairly sure he would have dealt with a whole lot better. “And in the other photo where you look like you’re about to kiss her.”

“Baby, I swear to you seconds after that I told her no. I’d just bumped into her and she was falling so I grabbed her to make sure she didn’t as that was the second time I’d nearly kno-“

“The second time?” Fliss looked at him and Frank closed his eyes, letting out a groan. “So you accidently nearly kissed her before.”

“No, that’s not-“ “Keep digging Frank, because that hole you’re in is getting deeper and deeper by the second.” she shook her head, looking away.

“I nearly knocked her over before.” he said, “Round the pool. I’d just finished talking to you, turned round and bumped straight into her.” “Right, and she just happened to be there in the club then after you ‘bumped’…” she framed the words with her fingers “…into her?”

“Again, full honestly, no, I don’t think she did” he shook his head “She was flirty. Made some comment or other when I said I’d watch where I was going about how she hoped not, and then we saw them on the Friday night too in one of the bars…”

Fliss looked at him and shook her head “The irresistible Adler charm eh?” Her voice carried a note of sarcasm, and Frank shook his head.

“Baby I’m just being honest here, telling you the truth. She was with a group on a 21st and I think they just saw a gang of guys and…” he shrugged “I dunno…they screwed Aaron, Chad and Jeff out of plenty of drinks so...” Fliss licked her lips and looked down, her hands fiddling with the now empty glass in her hands.

“Sweetheart, I get why you’re mad, I really do…and maybe I should have told her to fuck off sooner…”

“Maybe?” “Alright, not maybe, I should have but…I swear to god I didn’t kiss her, I didn’t sleep with her…nothing happened” He reached for her hand, his fingers gently squeezing hers “I love you, more than I can even begin to explain, and our Bean…the thought of being with anyone else never crosses my mind.”

She looked at him, then down at his hand which was over hers before she took a deep breath. Her head was a mash. Half of her wanted to believe him, his face and his words were so sincere and he’d never lied to her before, ever. But the other half…those damned photos. And either way, whether he had kissed her or not, he had been far too close, and she’d sat on his fucking knee long enough for someone to get a picture.

“You do believe me, right?” Frank asked, his eyes locking onto hers.

“Honestly?” she asked.

“Always.” he nodded.

“I don’t know what to believe…” she said, before she pulled her hand away and stood up, “I have to go. I’ll see you tonight.”

*****

“Hey Titch…” Steve greeted Fliss as she walked into the annex and instantly frowned when he saw her face “You ok?”

“Yeah…I’m fine.” She shrugged, not wanting to talk about what was happening anymore. She was tired. “Where’s Roo?”

“He’s out back.” Steve frowned “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit nothing.” he said, looking at her. She looked away as the tears filled her eyes and she turned to her brother shaking her head.

“Just Frank…and…”

“What’s he done?” Steve asked

“I don’t know.” Fliss said, her tears trickling down her face. “That’s just it…”

Steve put the coffee mug he was holding down on the side and swept his sister into his arms. “Hey, come on…”

She pressed her face into his grey t-shirt as his arms wrapped around her and she simply cried the tears she’d been holding back all morning. Eventually Steve pulled back and looked down at her, letting out a soft sigh. “What’s going on Lissy?”

She moved to take out her phone and wordlessly scrolled to the offending photos which she had saved and handed the phone to him. “There’s another one…” she said, as she saw her brother’s face darken. Steve swiped across and let out a huff through his nose.

“Ok.” he nodded “They don’t look great. What’s he had to say about them?”

Fliss swallowed “That he was drunk, and moments after the first one he pushed the girl away and on the second one…well, he says he told her to get lost too but…” “But you don’t believe him?”

“I don’t know Steve, that’s the problem.” she shrugged “I want to believe him, and he’s never lied to be before…and then there’s the message he sent me about being in someone else’s room and…”

“Hang on…someone else’s room?”

Fliss nodded and explained the whole mix up, about how he had been with Simon but even that she was having her doubts about now and Steve listened, his hand running over his beard as he took in her words.

“Have you talked to any of the other guys that were there?” he asked and she shook her head.

“Bonnie tried calling me before but, well to be honest they’re all gonna cover for him, even if he did do it aren’t they? I mean fuck…, seeing those damned photos…it was humiliating and…”

Steve sighed, handing her the phone back. “Look, Lissy, I’ve been in this position before. Some woman all over me and Sian getting the hump. Photos are a snap shot in time, they never tell the whole story…you know that as well as anyone.”

“Yeah, but the same girl is there, on his fucking lap Steve…”

“I know, and yes, regardless of what he did he shouldn’t have let that happen but…fucking hell, he was in Vegas, pissed out of his brains.” Steve sighed “I’m not excusing it, before you start, and I’m not dismissing your worry but…I dunno Liss, just don’t jump to any conclusions ok? Give it some thought.” “I can’t think about anything else.” she murmured. “God you’re just like dad.” Steve chuckled “Could be worse people to be like. Look, go to work, get your thoughts straight and if you’re adamant at the end of the day you still don’t believe him then just come here for the night and we’ll take it from there ok?”

Fliss nodded and wiped at her face “Thanks Steve.” “What are big brother’s for huh?” She smiled and then eyed him a little “You’re not gonna do anything stupid are you?” “Define stupid?” “Like go round there and punch him?” Steve shook his head “I promise, no punching.” Satisfied he was telling her the truth she whistled for both dogs who came trotting over, bid her brother goodbye and headed out to her jeep.

****** With nothing else much to do on his day off, Frank was busy scrolling the internet looking at realtor pages. Whilst things were still up in the air, it was helping him focus on being positive, because being anything else was not an option. So far nothing in particular had grabbed his eye but still, it was keeping him occupied as he tried to push the fear he was harbouring to the back of his mind.

He was pulled from his browsing by a knock to the door. Setting the laptop to one side he stood up and headed down the hallway and no sooner had he opened the door someone had gripped the collar of his shirt and shoved him harshly into the wall. It took him a split second to focus and when he realised who it was he gripped the front of them man’s shirt and pushed back. There was a little scuffle in the hallway until Frank managed to free himself from the man’s grip before he stood there, glaring at him, chest heaving.

“Fuck off Steve…” he glared at him.

“I warned you.” Steve looked at him “I told you what would happen if you hurt her Frank…”

“Yes, I remember what you said.” Frank looked at him, shaking his head.

“And yet you still did it…” “Oh get fucked, this has nothing to do with you…” “Piss off Frank, it has everything to do with me.” Steve snarled “She turned up this morning for the dog in a right state. Showed me the photos.”

Frank sighed and hung his head. He should have expected this.

“I told her not to jump to conclusions, trying to keep her calm but I gotta admit Frank…they look pretty damning.”

“I’m aware of that, thanks.” Frank bit back “And you know what, I don’t need this. Things are enough of a mess as it is without adding a brawl with you into the equation.” he turned back to head into the living room “Close the door on your way out.”

“Look me in the eye, tell me you didn’t…” Steve said to his back and Frank stopped, shaking his head as he turned to face him.

“Of course I didn’t. I’d never do that to her.”

Frank met Steve’s glare with one of his own and he could practically see the man’s mind whirring. Eventually he took a deep breath and jerked his head in a stiff nod.

“I had to know Frank.” he said, his tone less confrontational, and Frank knew Steve well enough to understand that was as much of an apology as he was going to get. Frank didn’t say anything, simply turned away once more and headed into the lounge.

“So what happened?” Steve asked following him.

“I was shit faced, that’s what happened.” Frank sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. He turned to look at Steve once more “The girl was part of a group that we’d bumped into a few times. She was a little flirty and yeah, I talked to her, but… she was a fucking kid they were there on a 21st party.”

Steve arched an eyebrow slightly as Frank pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

“She tried kissing me in the bar, I pushed her away. I don’t even know how she ended upon my lap but I told her to get lost and…” he shrugged and looked at Steve “There’s nothing more to it…”

“And the morning after when you woke up elsewhere?”

Frank let out a groan “I was in Simon’s room. I passed out…we both did. Liss called me that morning, she even heard Simon on the phone…” Steve watched him carefully as Frank simply shook his head “I’ve explained all this to her…”

“I know.” Steve said “I just wanted to hear it for myself.” he took a deep breath “Any coffee going?”

Frank looked at him and Steve gave him a small smile, causing Frank’s spirit to lift somewhat. Her brother believed him, which was the best thing he could have hoped for in the circumstances.

“Sure…” Frank nodded and headed to the kitchen, Steve following. He made them both a drink, not another word spoken until he handed him a mug and Steve took a sip, leaning against the kitchen counter.

“Look, Frank, I don’t think she believes you cheated, not really. From what she said to me I think she’s more upset really about how she found out.”

“She wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for those damned photos because there is nothing to find out.” Frank shook his head.

“When she told you about John…did she ever mention his little photo stunts?” Steve looked at Frank and Frank paused, frowning a little as he racked his brains, and then a conversation one stormy night as they lay in bed suddenly flashed into his mind.

“He used to go out and deliberately let women paw at him, and instead of hiding any photo evidence he used to simply flaunt it, splash it all over Facebook. That’s why I de-activated all my social media until recently…”

“Fuck.” Frank groaned, shaking his head.

“Manipulation.” Steve said, his jaw set “He would never do anything with the girls but he made Lissy think he had and would then accuse her of being jealous, and paranoid. Was his twisted of getting her to come off social media, another way to isolate her, keep her in line.”

“She doesn’t think that’s what I was doing?” Frank looked at Steve, a horrified expression on his face.

“God, no.” Steve shook his head, “She knows you’re not that man…but Frank, as happy and as safe as she is, those scars are gonna be there for a long time.” “I know.” “And I know that the fact that ass hole could still be casting a shadow over everything you have, especially now he’s well out of the picture, is basically really shit, but…” “I should have remembered.” Frank shook his head. “But, well, to be honest I’ve never had to explain myself like that to any girl, let alone the one I want to spend my life with and I was so caught up in getting her to believe me, I didn’t even consider any of that. Looks like I just fucked things up even more.”

“She’ll come round.” Steve looked at him. “Just give her time.” “I hope you’re right.” Frank shrugged “Because if she doesn’t I’ll never forgive myself.”

****

Fliss groaned as she looked at the caller ID on her phone. It was Bonnie again.

“Fucks sake…” She grumbled, before answering, deciding to get it over and done with.

“Finally!” Bonnie said, “I’ve been so worried about you…”

“Look, Bonnie I’m really busy…”

“Just 5 minutes…hear me out, please.”

“If you’re gonna start pleading Frank’s case…”

“There’s no case to plead. Simon told me everything last night, apparently about 30 seconds after she’d perched on his knee Frank suddenly realised what was going on and told her to fuck off.” “Well he would say that, he’s his friend…”

“Oh come on Fliss…” Bonnie made an exasperated noise “First off I can tell when Simon is lying, and he wasn’t, and second off, do you really think Frank would cheat on you?”

“I’m sick of everyone telling me what I should and shouldn’t think.” Fliss practically snarled “I don’t have time for this.”

She cut the call and shoved her phone back into her pocket, her hand gently sliding over her bump.

“You know, people are only trying to help Titch.”

Fliss spun round to see her brother in the doorway to the office and she let out a groan “I thought you were over to do work…” “I am…meetings start tomorrow.”

“Right, well, go and find something else to do. I’m busy.”

“Don’t get shitty with me…” Steve frowned.

“Steve just…fuck off!” Fliss exploded “I can’t deal with…” she stopped and shook her head “Why can’t everyone just leave me alone.” “Because they’re trying to help.” he said softly

“Well they’re not.” she sniffed

“Titch…look at me.” Steve said gently and she raised her head to meet her brother’s eyes, her own watering with tears.  “Do you hand on heart believe he would cheat on you…seriously?”

“I didn’t…”

“So why do you now?”

“I don’t know if I do…it’s just those photos and…” “Fuck the photos.” Steve said, his voice a little sterner. “You know full well they never tell a full story.” Fliss swallowed as she looked at her brother, as he continued.

“Do you truly think Frank is the type of man who would, after everything you two went through, jump into bed with some tramp in Vegas whilst this pregnant fiancée is at home, looking after his niece?”

Fliss looked down at the floor, her tears falling down her cheeks.

“Because I don’t Liss.” Steve continued “Especially not now he looked me in the eye and said he hasn’t.”

At that her head jerked up and she frowned. “You went round?”

“Yeah.”

“Steve you promised not to!”

“No, I promised not to punch him. And I didn’t.” he shrugged, not a shred of apology in his tone. “I talked to him, asked him straight to explain to my face.”

“And you believe him?”

“Yeah I do believe him, completely. I think he was drunk, and at worst potentially indulged the girl a little over the days they were there, which, ok, he shouldn’t have done but at worst he’s guilty of nothing but allowing some 21 year old kid to flirt with him a little.  And if that’s a crime then, fuck, you better shoot me along with half the population now.”

Liss looked away, her brother’s words ringing in her head. Truth was they hit home. She had always been a flirty person by nature, it was just the way she was…well, had been until John beat it out of her. But Frank, well, Frank had never bothered about her talking to other men before because he knew she was his…

“Is this really about him, or is this all to do with that fucker again?” Steve asked.

Fliss gave a snort and looked up at Steve. “Can you read minds?”

“No, you just get this look on your face whenever you think about him.”

She stayed silent.

“Frank isn’t John” Steve spoke gently.

“I know that Steve…”

“So stop comparing the two.”

“I’m not.”

“Ok, really? So tell me honestly when you saw those photos your mind didn’t go to his party trick of being photographed with every girl he could manage to on a night out to rub your nose in it, whether he cheated or not?”

“I know that’s not what Frank was doing.” she shook her head. And she did, truly. Frank would never manipulate her like that but she would be lying if she said she hadn’t thought about it, and how shit it made her feel “I just…”

“You’re waiting for something to come along and fuck everything up for you.” Steve said, looking at her.  “Which I get, I really do Titch because of everything you’ve been through but you need to stop looking over your shoulder and worrying about what you think is gonna happen, and simply look at what is, because if you don’t then eventually you’re just going to fuck it all up for yourself.”

Fliss turned away from her brother, his words cutting her to the core. He was right. She was, whether consciously or not, constantly wondering when her happiness was going to shatter around her because all she had ever known in a relationship was pain and anger. Some days she would wake before Frank and lie there, watching his face as he slept, committing every single detail right down to those freckles that spattered his nose and cheek, unable to believe how lucky she was. Engaged to a man who asked her to marry him because he loved her and didn’t merely want to possess her. She had a home, not a house, a surrogate daughter in Mary, days filled with laugher and happiness, and a baby on the way. It was a dream for most people, including her and she was perpetually scared one day someone or something would take it all from her. Just as they always had before.

“You know, Frank told me that he’s never had to explain himself to a girl before…” Steve gave took a deep breath “He’s now petrified that being honest with you has just made things worse. Doesn’t that tell you something?” Fliss looked at her brother, taking in his words. This was all unchartered territory for Frank too. What they were building together was new. He wanted it and more importantly he wanted it with her. As that realisation washed over her so did another one, the understanding that he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise what they have.

“Look, what the pair of you have is special. Don’t let something as stupid as this ruin it all because you both deserve better than that.”

The tears in Fliss’ eyes began to spill down her cheeks and Steve sighed, pulling her to his chest, gently rocking her to and fro, simply allowing her to cry.

****

When Fliss got home Frank wasn’t there, but there was a Pandora Gift Bag sat on the coffee table. Curiosity got the better of her and she undid the bag, opening the box inside. It was a small stroller charm and she swallowed, placing the box back in the bag. She heard the door open and turned as Frank appeared in the doorway.

“Before you ask…” Frank nodded at the bag in her hand “I didn’t buy you that as a sweetener. I got that in Vegas before any of this kicked off.”

“I didn’t…” she shook her head, placing it back on the table “That wasn’t what I thought.”

He gave her a nod and she studied him for a second, before Mary bounced into the room.

“Hey!” Fliss smiled at her, “You had a good day.”

“Yeah, it was ok.” Mary nodded “They were all doing math today but I did some of my uni work whilst they did the times tables. Have you and Frank made up yet?”

Liss hesitated and Frank gently dropped his hand to the back of Mary’s head.

“We talked, and we still need to talk some more.” he said “Any chance you can give us some space?”

She eyed him for a moment before she shrugged “I got homework, I’ll be in my room.”

“Thanks Stack.” he smiled and she turned and headed back out of the room. Once she was out of ear shot Frank turned to Fliss.

“So I had a visit from Steve…”

“I heard.” Fliss said “I’m sorry I told him not to.”

“He was just being a big brother.” Frank shook his head “But I’m not gonna lie, he scared the shit out of me.” “Well he came to the yard after, fighting your corner. As has Bonnie…”

“Honey, I didn’t ask them to…”

“I know.” she said softly. There was a moment of silence before she sighed and shook her head. “Frank, I’m sorry…”

“Liss…”

“Let me finish, please.” she shook her head and Frank fell silent, his hands falling into the pockets of his jeans. “If I’m honest I don’t think I ever thought you’d really cheated, I guess…well I saw the photos and…” she trailed off, shrugging “I’m sorry for not believing you, but I’m still pissed at you for getting yourself in that position in the first place.”

Frank hesitated for a second. He was about to protest that he was just drunk, point out that he hadn’t meant to get himself in any position at all,  but then he stopped himself. She was angry and hormonal, and he’d rather have her pissed at him for being an idiot than believing he was unfaithful.

So instead he nodded “Ok that’s fair. I get it. And I’m sorry.”

She looked at him for a moment and he stepped forward to give her a hug but she simply moved back a little and gave him a small smile “I’ll start dinner…”

“Sure…” his voice was quiet. He wanted nothing than to hold her in his arms, run his hand over the place his baby was growing, her bump seemingly even bigger than it had been that morning but he also didn’t want to push it. She hadn’t left, she believed him, but she was pissed. However, Frank knew she would get over that in time…which he understood he had to give her, and respect the boundaries she set too. So, with that in mind he took a deep breath and followed her into the kitchen.

“Do you want me to help or…”

“No, it’s only stir fry.” she shook her head. “Did you already feed Mary or…”

He frowned and looked at her, and then realised what she was referring to. They hadn’t been home when she arrived.

“Oh, no…I picked her up and then ran my suit into the dry cleaners.” he said “It had something all over the front of it…god knows what.”

She nodded. “Ok, well it won’t be too long.”

“I’ll set the table then.” he nodded. He moved around, careful not to step into her space as he gathered the various items around and carrying them into the dining room. Once he had completed that he headed out telling Fliss he was going to wash up and tell Mary to do the same.

Fliss acknowledged him and continued with cooking, when suddenly she felt a really strange sensation in her stomach. It was like a fluttering, almost as if she had bubbles inside her belly, and then she realised instantly what it was.

Their baby had moved. And she’d just felt it for the first time.

Pausing what she was doing her hand fell to her bump as the tiny little sensations flooded her and she felt a smile creeping over her face.

“Hey Bean…” she said softly.

At that point Frank came back into the room and saw her, her hand on her bump, stood perfectly still, looking down at her belly and he frowned.

“Lissy?” he looked at her as she raised her head to look at him “Everything ok?”

“Yeah, I just felt Bean move!” she smiled, her eyes bright and Frank let out a grin.

“Really?” he stepped forward, his hand out but he paused. Fliss looked at him and he locked eyes with her. Fliss understood instantly, he was waiting for her to say it ok after she told him last night not to touch her.

He was asking her permission.

Instantly her heart melted towards him, she loved this man, with everything she had. And he loved her. She gently took his hand and pulled on it softly, and he closed the distance as she pressed his palm to her stomach, leaving her hand resting over his.

“I doubt you’ll feel it…it was just like bubbles, not really a kick or anything.” she said as he looked down before he raised his eyes back to her “But they can hear you now though, according to Mary’s extensive research.”

“Yeah?”

She nodded. Frank took a deep breath and knelt down, both his hands resting on the side of her belly as he grinned “Hey kid…you cooking well?”

Fliss felt the flutters again, a little stronger this time and she smiled, her hand running into Frank’s hair “They just did it again. They clearly know your voice, daddy.”

He glanced up at her, his eyes watering “I love you both so much.”

“I know.” she sniffed “I love you too.”

Frank stood up, his hands sliding up Fliss’ thighs to her hips and as he did, hers fell from his hair to his shoulders. They both stayed still, simply looking at one another till Frank leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss.

“This doesn’t mean I’ve completely forgiven you.” she muttered against his mouth and he smiled.

“I wouldn’t dream of suggesting it did.” he shrugged “But is it at least enough to get me off the couch? My back is killing me.”

“You wanna compare back ache?” she arched an eyebrow.

“No, no, not at all, obviously yours is far worse than mine could possibly be…”

Fliss narrowed her eyes. “Is that sarcasm?”

“Absolutely not.” he told her sincerely, shaking his head. His eyes, however, told her a different story. Those azure blues she knew and loved shone with humour, utterly betraying him.

“Hmmm, well I’ll think about it.” she said, her hands moving to pat his chest. “Now get lost, I need to finish dinner.”

Frank turned away, a smile on his face. As he always told Mary, an I’ll think about it wasn’t a no.

[dreams-of-a-lark]

(Lark and Elias’s first and last photos together)

TASK 1: THE LAST DAY

January 11, 2016 7:00 AM, EST 12:00 PM, GMT

“Lark, you know I love you—”

“Boring.”

“Mmm fair. It’s fine, I have others. How about this one? Lark, you mean more to me than—” 

“Erh! Nope. Try again.”

“Oh, come on, you barely let me start!”

���Boo hoo… I knew where you were going with it. Got anything else?”

“Just one more, I was saving this one for last. It’s the best one I have, so will you let me actually get going before you stop me this time?” 

“Maybe. Compel me and we’ll see. I want to see you dig into the deep recesses of your soul, pull out your raw, still-beating heart and lay it bare. Otherwise, what am I even here for?”

“You’re unbelievable. But fine… Ahem...” Elias closed his eyes and let out a deep, shuttered sigh, “Lark. Before I met you, I had lost almost all faith in humanity. I found it impossible to believe that anyone acted with genuinely good intentions. I was bitter, cynical, lonely… and then, just as I was on the precipice of giving up on people entirely, there you were. Right on time. This pure light, banishing all my shadows. You are everything I was once sure didn’t exist in reality, but also the most real thing I’ve ever encountered.

The sheer amount of love you have to give blows me away. Love isn’t something you keep a reserve of only for certain special people. For you, love permeates the air around you everywhere you go and anyone lucky enough to meet you or know you gets to breathe it freely. Lark, you are so good, with no expectations or conditions attached to it, but just because it’s your nature. You make me want to be better everyday now, whereas before… I was just working on the motivation to be, period point blank. 

I have had the unfathomable privilege to breathe your love everyday for the past eight years and I hope you’ve felt even a fraction of what you’ve given me reflected back to you. Because, Lark, I love you more than I have the words to say. I love you with every last bit of life in me and I want to love you and feel your love for just that long, until the very last bit of life leaves me and I’m returned to the earth. I don’t know where I’ll be in the next five, ten, fifty years, all I know is I want to be wherever you are. So, Lark Dorian Crain, will you marry me?”

A silence hung in the air accompanied only by a faint mechanical whirring and the low buzz of an LCD screen. Katie finally broke it, her voice glitching and tinny through Elias’s small laptop speakers, “Better.” She said simply.

“Seriously? That’s it?” Elias replied, his voice laden with shock and disappointment.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful, definitely a solid start. I almost teared up a few times. But, as all first drafts go, it could use some improvement.”

“It’s not my first draft, though…”

“Eh, feels like a first draft, love.”

“You know, sometimes it’s almost impossible to believe you’re related to Lark, let alone twins?”

“To be fair, do you know anyone in our family that’s really like Lark?”

“Eleanor.”

“Not related to us, stupid.”

“Mmm.. true. Ugh! Katydid... What do I Katy-do?”

“Well, for starters, you could never do whatever that just was again. Secondly, stop worrying about it, seriously. Knowing Lark, you could throw the ring across the deck and say, ‘go fetch if you wanna marry me’ and he’ll be running for it in an instant.”

Elias rolled his eyes, but smiled fondly at the thought of Lark bounding eagerly around the ship. It filled his heart whenever he thought of Lark’s joy, to think he had the power to bring so much of it to the surface baffled him endlessly.

“I’m so nervous,” he admitted.

“You don’t need to be,” Katie reassured him, “All jokes aside, it’s beautiful, and Lark loves you so much. You may not have moved me to tears, but you’ll definitely move him to tears. And then he’s going to blush like a damned schoolgirl and say yes a million times, like the sappy romantic he is.”

“You think so?”

“If he doesn’t, call an exorcist immediately, because that’s not Lark.”

Elias scoffed, but this was comforting encouragement to hear. Nothing he didn’t secretly already know, but it didn’t hurt to be reminded when he was feeling self-conscious. He breathed in deeply, filling up his cheeks with air, then puffing it back out through the small ‘o’ his mouth formed. 

“You’re right, I know.”

“I know you know. Listen, I’ve got to get back to work, love. I can call you when I get off, if you want, but you really should just enjoy your time with him today. Just act like it’s any other day... on a fancy cruise ship with the love of your life. Right?” 

Elias nodded, “Right. No need to call me back, you’re right. I’m just going to enjoy the day with him. Have a good day at work, I’m sure we’ll both call you after it happens.”

“I’ll be sure to hold the phone far away from my ear, so you all can squeal without busting my eardrums. Bye for now, then.”

“Alright. Bye Katie.”

The call ended and Elias closed his computer and looked out over the beautiful expanse of ocean surrounding the ship. Lark was still asleep in their cabin and probably would be for another couple of hours or so, it was nearly impossible to wake him anytime before 9 am. So Elias decided to stay for a while, taking in the peacefulness of the empty deck while the majority of the ship’s passengers slept, rocked by the lullaby of gentle waves.

January 11, 2016 9:00 AM, EST

Elias crept silently back into their cabin to find Lark sleeping fitfully, brows furrowed, eyelids knit tight. This was normally fairly unusual, but lately he’d been experiencing an uptick of nightmares that he didn’t like telling Elias much about for some reason. Elias eased down onto the edge of the bed and carefully lowered a hand down toward his forehead, fingers grazing across, pushing aside a stray curl. Almost instantaneously, Lark’s expression softened at his touch. It was moments like this that reminded him just how strong their connection was, the small gestures that could soothe one another’s most turbulent emotions.

He leaned down and pressed a light kiss on Lark’s cheek at which his eyes fluttered open, gazing weary oceans up at him. A soft smile, wrapt in security accompanied the gaze and Elias felt a pang in his chest as his heart skipped in response. “Morning, sleepyhead,” he sang softly to him.

Lark hummed and curled around where he sat, “Mmmmm… no.”

“No? What do you mean, no?”

“Not morning,” Lark muttered.

“It is, though.”

Lark shook his head, “No,” he mumbled, sleepiness still heavy in his voice, “still nighttime.”

“Oh is it now?” Elias asked, to which Lark nodded. Then, before he had a chance to react, he felt long arms wrap around him and pull him down and over into the bed, “Ah! Lark!” He laughed, “What’s this?”

“We sleep now,” Lark cooed, clearly very pleased with the results as he held Elias close. 

Elias let out another gentle laugh and turned to face the larger man, pressing his forehead to the other’s and cupping his face in his hands. “I love you,” he whispered.

Eyes closed, Lark gave a delighted smile. “Mhmmm,” he hummed in response, raising a hand to Elias’s eyelids in an attempt to shut them, “we sleep now.”

“Okay,” Elias giggled, “we sleep now, just a little longer.”

January 11, 2016 1:20 pm, EST

Elias woke to find Lark gone. Where was he? He rolled to sit up in the bed and checked his phone. 1:20 pm. Of course it was. With a stretch and a hearty yawn, he began to work on getting to his feet and looked around. The room was empty, the shower wasn’t going either, then he saw a shadow through the blinds leading out onto the small balcony of their room.

He opened the blinds to find Lark sitting in a wicker chair, sipping tea, gazing out over the water in placid solitude. There was a bottle of champagne and a pitcher of orange juice sitting on the table next to him, along with two champagne flutes and a bouquet of roses resting in a faceted crystal vase. Elias smiled to himself and slid open the glass door onto the balcony, coming up behind Lark who turned his head slightly towards him. 

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” Lark said, seemingly completely unaware of the irony.

“It’s nearly 1:30.”

The other shrugged, “Morning is a state of mind.”

“Okay,” Elias laughed, draping his arms around Lark’s shoulders, and kissing the top of his head, “what’s all this?” He pointed at the set up on the table, to which Lark rose from his seat, came around to hug him tight, and laid a tender kiss on his lips. 

He smiled, then turned to pour two mimosas, “Happy Anniversary,” he said, holding out a glass to Elias. 

They clinked glasses and sat on the balcony, sipping their drinks, enjoying that serene silence they could only take true comfort in with one another. Every once in a while Elias would glance over at Lark’s satisfied face, the view of the ocean sparkling in his bright eyes. It didn’t matter where they were, Elias knew, but this was perfect. He wondered if he shouldn’t just pop the question right now, but the ring stayed in his pocket, waiting for a moment more perfect than this one. 

January 11, 2016 5:30 pm, EST

Elias hopped and shimmied as he pulled on his slim fit black slacks and tucked his stark white button up into them. He sifted through his bag and spread out the various necktie options he’d brought with him — plain black, floral, black and blue stripes, matte and satin striped maroon, black bowtie with subtle gold stars. A muffled sound of happy singing came from beneath the hiss of the running shower in the background. Elias looked back toward the bathroom and smiled, then turned to eye the bowtie lying on the bed. He was no good at tying bowties, Lark would have to help him, which made it the obvious choice in accessory. 

“Lark! Hurry up, our reservation’s at 6:00.” 

The singing stopped, “What’s that?” Lark called from the bathroom.

“I said... move your butt!” he called back.

“It’s always moving, love!”

“You know what I mean.” 

“Alright, alright, I’ll be out in a minute.” 

The shower went on for a little longer, then the hissing became a light trickle and, soon enough, a thick fog of steam rolled out of the bathroom door, orange light dissipated through the clouds. Lark strolled out, towel tied around his waist, drops of water hanging from the ends of his hair and glistening on his shoulders. He eyed Elias with the untied tie around his neck. A pleased laugh escaped his lips as he inched toward Elias and tugged at the ends of the bowtie, pulling him in for a kiss.

“Did you pick this tie just so I’d help you with it?” Lark asked.

Elias shrugged, “Maybe I did, you don’t know me.”

“No, of course I don’t.” Lark smirked and gently traced the side of Elias’s face with his fingertips, taking a moment to savor the sight of him. Eight years in and seeing Lark look at him like this still made Elias’s heart race.

“We have to get a move on,” Elias muttered, breathlessly. 

Lark cleared his throat, coming back to earth, and brought his hand back down to the tie. “Right,” he said matter-of-factly, then started on the tie. He worked the ends over and under, focus woven into his furrowed brow. Elias glanced down to watch his hands move then glanced back up at him. “There,” Lark fluffed the bowtie proudly when he had finished and met Elias’s gaze again.  

“I love you.” Elias reminded him for the millionth time and pulled him down to meet his lips, running his hands through Lark’s wet hair. 

Lark responded in kind, wrapping his long wingspan tight around Elias’s waist, “I love you too,” he whispered into Elias’s lips.

“I know,” Elias said and patted Lark’s chest as they pulled apart, “Now get dressed, we have like fifteen minutes.”

January 11, 2016 8:00 pm, EST

Elias and Lark walked hand in hand across the top deck of the ship, stomachs full, hearts warm, and heads perhaps a bit too light from a day full of champagne. Above them hung a cloudless, black blanket of sky encrusted with brightly shimmering, diamond stars and the thin sliver of a waxing crescent moon. Not far from them, a band played a harmonious violin cover of “You Are The Reason” with soft percussion accentuating the background. 

Lark pulled away, still holding onto Elias’s hand at arm's length, “Dance with me?” he asked.

Elias looked around the deck at the other families and couples enjoying the night around them, “There’s so many other people.” 

“So what?”

“They might be watching us.”

“Then we’d better put on a good show for them, don’t you think?” Lark smiled, pulling him back in and holding him close. 

Elias sighed, but a blush pulled the corners of his mouth into a coy smile. He wrapped his arms around Lark’s neck and leaned into him as they spun around the deck. Holding each other like this felt equal parts due to the desire to be close to one another and the necessity to help one another remain standing. The more they danced the more the effects of the day’s drinks took their toll and it wasn’t long until they had to slow to a stop. 

“Getting a little dizzy?” Elias laughed.

“Just a little,” Lark agreed. Then his face got serious and he pulled Elias with him towards the railing of the ship to look out over the water, shimmering under the stars. 

“I don’t want this night to end,” he said as they walked.

“Neither do I…” a pause settled between them. 

“Lark—” / “Elias—” They both spoke the other’s names in unison, followed by another unison, “sorry.” Then Elias spoke alone, “You go first.”

“Oh, uh,” Lark began, thrusting his hands into his pockets. He seemed to be fidgety all of a sudden, “Well, Elias… I know you know how much I love you, but I just wanted to say… before I met you…” Was this going where Elias thought? Had they really had the same idea at the same time? Well, he’d be damned if Lark was going to upstage his proposal. He gave a knowing smirk and stepped forward towards the other, “Lark���” but suddenly… time seemed to slow.

January 11, 2016 8:15:28 pm, EST

“… sorry.” Lark squinted and shook his head slightly, slow blinking.

January 11, 2016 8:15:30 pm, EST

Lark’s knee gave out on him and he stumbled back a bit.

January 11, 2016 8:15:32 pm, EST

Elias noticed the railing behind him fell just below Lark’s hip level. His eyes widened and he reached out to him.

January 11, 2016 8:15:33 pm, EST

The railing of the ship caught the back of Lark’s thigh.

January 11, 2016 8:15:34 pm, EST

“LARK!” 

January 11, 2016 1:15:28 - 1:15:34 am, GMT

Katie slept fitfully, alone in her small, twin bed, nestled in her small, one bedroom, Hampstead flat. In her dream, a flock of seagulls surrounded a small brown bird with a yellow face, a white underside, and black accent marks across it’s chest, under its eyes and in the tufts that sat upon its head. The small bird desperately flapped its wings to stay in the air, but the gulls, ten times its size, flapped their wings with all the more force down upon it.

January 11, 2016 8:15:35 pm, EST

Lark flipped over the railing, tumbling down towards the frigid waters below. A small crowd on the deck gasped as they bore witness. Elias ran to the railing and climbed readying himself to jump in after, but, just as he was about to take the leap a couple bystanders stopped him. 

January 11, 2016 1:15:35 am, GMT

Katie sprung up in her bed and screamed, cold sweat running down her face. An indescribable feeling of unbearable loss hit her core and ricocheted through her body.

January 11, 2016 8:15:36 pm, EST

The two bystanders held Elias tight, while others ran to find crew members that could help. “NO!” Elias screamed, “LET GO OF ME! LARK!” His body, completely sober now, shook with shock and tears cascaded from his eyes. “LET GO OF ME, GODDAMMIT!” He struggled against the ones holding him, finally breaking free and running back to the railing. His eyes scanned the water, desperately searching for signs of Lark, but couldn’t make out even the slightest shadow of a body. “LARK!” He called out. “LARK!” His knees buckled and he collapsed against the railing. “HELP HIM! SOMEBODY! Do something!” His forehead pressed hard against the bars, as his voice gave out, cracking a helpless, “please…” the bustle of crew members rushing to help Lark echoed from lower decks.

“Please… Lark… help him… somebody… bring him back…” It was impossible to see through the blinding film of tears rippling across his eyes, “please… I can’t… please don’t let him be gone… I can’t… I can’t… please… I can’t… somebody… Lark… I love you… please… I can’t.” 

January 11, 2016 1:15:36 am, GMT

On the other side of the world, Katie sat alone in her bed and heaved untamable sobs for reasons wholly unknown, save for the fact that it felt like something had reached into the deep recesses of her soul and snapped her still-beating heart in half, leaving the memory of it lingering like a phantom limb. 

January 11, 2016 1:30 am, GMT

A high tinnitus whine made its home in her ears, as she tried to process what she was feeling. Then the phone rang.

[oneofthemillionarmy]

The Impossible Order | Ch.2

Summary line: Mr. Min is a stoic boss who will never outwardly show appreciation for you. Not until you’re gone does he recognize how much you do. And what you do matters to him.

ceo!Yoongi | best.friend!Hoseok | romance, fluff, angst, and stuff

Loosely inspired by Secretary Kim and this third bullet point of the prompt list

Last chapter

~•~

Last night, one of the Peruvian suppliers was able to promise 250 ct worth of tourmaline, but it would be delivered in two weeks rather than the originally intended week and a half. Knowing your boss is one for deadlines and punctuality, you believe he’d prefer Hestia Sourcing. Despite your own gut telling you that Peruvian Treasures will pay off in the long run. Regardless of the turnaround time from your main supplier, the 200 ct in two weeks will keep the remaining four projects afloat before the regular shipment. However, you still report the remaining two supplier response and quotes, also providing your own input. Mr. Min says he prefers Hestia; as expected.

“How goes the status on our tourmaline crisis?” Mr. Min asks as he sips on his third cup of coffee this morning.

“Hestia Sourcing has already been officially contacted for their shipment of tourmaline to arrive in a week and a half. Jimin is currently working with Kim Taehyung on the new design for the frame. Seokjin has already crafted two other designs for you to look at today before he meets with Yoo Jae Suk tomorrow. Beyoncé loves alexandrite, but the tourmaline was intended to match with her costumer designer’s vision for the Met Gala, so he’s unwilling to make changes. Your father had already ok’d the change for your parent’s anniversary gift, so we can switch their gemstones with alexandrite instead. The JP team has already started working on the mold for the Jubilee. And marketing just emailed me the final draft for the letter to the customers and PR is still working with marketing for the ethically sourced advertisement. They are utilizing internet ad platforms, both short clip video ads and on social media.” You handed him your tablet for him to read over the final draft letter and Seokjin’s designs.

“Tell marketing to go ahead with the letter. Also, tell Seokjin that I would also like to see his first design with silver instead of rose gold.”

“Yes, Mr. Min.”

“Today I’m meeting with Jasper and Jester Industries over Zoom at 12:30. Tell the tech team I want to use the hologram projector during this meeting because we’re showing them the prototype today. Speaking of prototype, I need to see the prototype from the TP team by 10. Go to L’Orange today for lunch today; I want the lamb chops. James and Soobin will be coming at 1:30 to go over the purchasing of the mine sites for the cobalt mining. Check back in with me at 2 on the Kim Taehyung project and the marketing strategy. I want to see Seokjin’s new designs by 3. And check with our supply team if we’re maintaining our upkeep of inventory. If not, I need a list before 11 this morning along with suppliers’ response for turnaround time and quotes.”

“Yes, Mr. Min.” You had your hands clasped behind your back the entire time.

“Another coffee please.”

“Yes, Mr. Min.” Without another word, you step out and take out your recorder. You play back his directives as you get the coffee.

~•~

“Hey, Hoseok.” You sigh as you pour hot water into your instant noodle bowl for lunch.

“Hey, Sunshine.” You chuckle. If the either of you were the sunshine, it’d be him.

“How’s Yeontan?”

“He’s fine. The vet says that he’s a little underfed, but otherwise, he’s still the most adorable Yeontan-ie that has ever lived.” Hoseok gushes at the puppy in his lap as he drives on his way back to his home. Hoseok will be holding onto Yeontan until the weekend.

“Ok. That’s good news. Was he good at the vet?”

“He hates the vet. You should know that better than I do. I was a dog catcher for 30 minutes. And he caused a whole waiting room full of dogs into a frenzy. Did you know that one of the people there brought their snake? I hate those. Yeontan almost fought a snake! You have no idea how hard it was for me to finally grab Yeontan before anything drastic happened.” You laugh as he goes on about his heroic deed of saving your pup from a snake.

“You did very well. Thank you, Hoseok.”

“Never mind that, Blessings. Hey. Are you coming over today after work?”

“I might. My boss has been very extra today. Every ten minutes, his chat bubble pops up adding 3 more things to do. But honestly, with the amount of things going on today, he shouldn’t have anything else left to do tonight. I might actually get off work on time.

“Good. Good. ‘Cause I was thinking –“ before Hoseok can finish his words, you hear the sound of a car swerve.

“Hoseok? You ok?”

“Yeah. Some idiot w-“ and the line cut off.

~•~

At 12:15, you were nowhere to be found. You left a message to Yoongi that you had to take the day off. Everything you were requested to do was already set in motion like a Rube Goldberg machine. You texted him saying that there are cups and cups of coffee in the fridge ready for him. If he wants hot, he’ll have to wait another day. And as promised, everything Yoongi needed was here. He had everything he needed. You just weren’t there to provide it.

“Where’s Y/N?” Seokjin asks as he comes in at 3pm like clockwork, “I would’ve thought she’d give me that 20-minute warning like she always does when I have a meeting with you.” She does that?

“I don’t know. She took a half day. I haven’t seen her since 11 or something.” Yoongi says nonchalantly as he looks over the Seokjin’s work. Seokjin just blinks at that before he starts slowly, “That’s not like her. Is everything ok? Do you know what happened?”

“No.”

“It’s just not like her to –“

“I like it better in silver this way.” Yoongi cuts him off, gesturing to the new designs.

“Heh. Yeah, Y/N said you would. I wanted to show you the rose gold one first anyway.” Seokjin chuckles as he sits down across the table from him, “Speaking of Y/N,” I wasn’t speaking about her…, “You got the supplies list for JP, TP, and HP, right? She told me you were working with the cobalt mine sites today. She told me to tell you that since cobalt is one of the supplies on the list, and the mine site wouldn’t be ready just yet, she contacted 3 different cobalt miners and selected Arrows for the cobalt supply.”

“She should’ve come to me first about the different miners. We have our upcoming product from HP –“

“The ceramic tiles for Ms. James’ bathroom. Yeah. She contacted HP. They require 300 g and Arrows is the only one with the adequate amount of supply. It will be here in 5 days.” Seokjin stands up and walks over to Yoongi’s kitchen, “All the other suppliers have been contacted. She sent me the list and wants me to report it to you.”

“You’re just a designer for the jewelry department,” Yoongi says as he looks through his email to see if you sent him any recent emails. Nothing.

“Give me some credit. I’ve got a brain and it’s used for more than just designing. Don’t forget, before I was a designer, I was also your assistant too.”

“Yeah, a pretty bad one.” Yoongi snorts. It’s why he needed you.

“We were just a startup! We literally just graduated then.” Seokjin protests as he come back over and sets down a steaming hot cup of coffee in front of Yoongi.

“I thought Y/N only had iced ones left.”

“She did, but she instructed me to heat up one for you before we go over the list with you.” Seokjin scoots his chair closer as he whips out his tablet to bring up the supplies list, “And one for after.”

~•~

“Mr. Jung has suffered a serious blow to the head and is currently unconscious. We don’t know when he will wake at this point. His left arm has scarring from the glass shatters from the window when the car was impacted. His left leg has a hairline fracture and the patella was dislocated but has already been set back. Luckily, his left leg is the worst of the limbs. There’s bruising on the right thigh and right elbow also has bruising. The bruises are likely from holding on to the dog during impact. His right arm has some muscle tears do to strain.

“Right now, our biggest concern is when he will wake up. He had internal bleeding in the brain but the blood has been removed and there’s no clotting, in his brain or anywhere near his spine. Everything is where it needs to be, and there’s nothing that indicated long term brain damage or trauma. But we won’t know for sure until he wakes up.” The doctor nods his head and leaves.

You sniff as you cross your arms, staring at your best friend lying in the hospital bed. His head is wrapped as well as his left arm. His left leg is currently suspended in its cast. By his left eyes and cheeks, are massive bruises that still look sticky and gooey.

If only I didn’t let him take Yeontan…

“How’s my dog?”

“We checked in with the vet hospital nearby. Your dog has no extreme injuries, only mild bruising. The doctor wants him to stay overnight for observation.” The nurse reports to you. You shiver from the lonely air of the hospital.

“You can go in and see the patient right now, but please do not touch him. And visiting hours will be over in 40 minutes.” The nurse gently reminds you before you nod, thanking the nurse and heading in.

Walking towards Hoseok, your nose feels the burn as tears well up in your eyes. Before you even reach Hoseok’s bed, the tears already overflow out.

“I’m so sorry Hoseok. This is my fault.” And he’s a dancer too…oh my God, he’s a dancer….his limbs…

Your tears quickly turn into hysterical sobs, thinking too many things at once. Your greatest prayer is that he wakes up and he is completely healed. You start hyperventilating so you sit down and take deep breaths.

Although you were instructed not to touch him, you couldn’t resist to at least clutch to the hospital blankets next to his right hand, your knuckles touching each other’s.

“Please wake up, Hoseok. I’ll never have you do anything else for me. I’m sorry if I ever took advantage of you. Please know that I never once took you for granted. You are my dearest friend and I don’t want anyone else for a best friend. I promise to hug you more. I promise to cook for you. I’ll do it at your house. You don’t have to come to mine. I’ll clean up my mess after too. I’m here for you, I promise. I really am. I’m not leaving you, I swear to God. Please just wake up and be ok. You’re gonna be ok. I promise.” You turn to look to the hospital window to make sure no one sees you. You grab his right hand and lean down to kiss it, “Please wake up.”

Your phone in your pocket vibrates and you take it out.

The board members meeting is tomorrow at 8am. Please gather the data and reports from the teams ready by 6am. I will look over it before the meeting.

“Fuck you. No. Not now.” You grit your teeth and put the phone back in the pocket.

Your tears are both sad and angry now, but you know you need to calm down. Nothing drastic.

You take a couple deep breaths before you wipe your tears and take your phone out again to write an email. You look up as you think for a moment. Make that three.

Next chapter

[apriorisea]

“One Year” You x Namjoon

Sitting back, you reach up to lift your hair away from the sweat on the back of your neck, feeling equal parts relief and disgust as the soft breeze cools you down a little. The day was warm but not unbearable, with a picturesque blue-sky dotted with the fluffiest clouds. Exhaling softly, you look back at your dad’s gravestone. “What a perfect day for a picnic, right, dad? I should’ve packed one. I wasn’t even thinking. ....Maybe next time.”     In the 30 minutes you’d been at the cemetery, you’d managed to clear away the dead flowers and replace them with new bouquets, arranging them painstakingly.       “I know mom wanted to be here,” you continue, your voice low and calm; since your father had passed away exactly 1 year ago today, you’d grown into the habit of casually talking to him sometimes. “But grandpa’s still recovering from his surgery, so she decided she needed to stay with him.” You settle into a more comfortable position, tracing the writing on the headstone with your eyes. “....I miss you, dad.”      The sound of tires driving maybe a little too fast up the path behind you causes you to turn. A shiny black sedan (all of the windows tinted dark) pulls up in a hurry, and one of the back doors is thrown open to reveal your boyfriend. He climbs out agitatedly, then leans back in to grab a basket before slamming the door behind him and turning to scan the cemetery, looking for you.      You get to your feet, unable to accurately describe the feeling that’s floating through you now, and give a little wave when his eyes land on you. In an instant, his replaces his semi-stressed expression with a genuine smile and makes his way towards you; behind him, the shiny black sedan drives away slowly.       “Joonie,” you exclaim when he’s a few feet away. “You’re here!”      He wraps you in a one-armed hug, accepting your kiss eagerly. “Of course, babe,” he says with that perfect smile of his. He lets go of you so he can reach up to smooth a strand of your hair back from your face. “I said I would be.”      “I know.” You’re so happy you can’t stop smiling. “But you’ve been so busy, I---”      “Thought I wouldn’t show up?” he teases, raising one eyebrow.       You grin and reach for his hand. “I’m so glad you’re here.”      He squeezes your hand tight, then his gaze drifts to the headstone in front of you both. Bowing his head respectfully, he says in a low voice, “Sir. Sorry I’m late.”      “It’s okay.” You know he was talking to your dad---a fact that warms your heart---but you answer for him. “Dad and I were just catching up a little, talking about the weather....Isn’t it just the most perfect day for a picnic?”      “Ah.” He lifts the basket with a smile. “I thought the exact same!”      Your mouth falls open at this. “Namjoon...How did you know??” In your giddiness, you reach up to kiss his cheek.       Beaming, he releases your hand so he can set the basket on the warm grass. Bending down to open the basket, he produces a small blanket, spreading it out and helping you sit. “Perfect blue sky, fluffy white clouds,” he lists. “Your dad always said that was the best weather for a picnic. Right, sir?”      You feel the tears well-up in your eyes. Namjoon had only known your father for 2 months before he’d died, but in that short time the two of them had grown very close. It was a huge source of comfort to you to know that your dad had met the love of your life---and had approved. As you watch your boyfriend unpack the picnic, you feel a surge of gratitude.       When everything is set out and ready, you scoot closer to him, kissing his cheek one more time. “This looks amazing.”      He grins, but shrugs one shoulder. “I can’t really take credit. One of the managers put it together for me while I was in rehearsal.”      At that exact moment, you hear his phone buzzing relentlessly in his pocket, but he makes no move to grab it. Frowning a little, you nod slowly. “Are you supposed to be somewhere else right now?”     “Nope,” he says immediately. Digging for his phone, he silences the call.      “But....are you sure?” The comeback was only weeks away, and you rarely saw him these days as he burned the candle at both ends in preparation for the big release. “I know you had rehearsal and some photo shoots scheduled for today.”      He puts a hand on your knee. “Don’t worry, love,” he says with a softer smile. “This is exactly where I’m supposed to be. It’s in my schedule and everything.” When you give him a look, he grabs his phone and opens the calendar app, flipping the screen towards you. “See??”      You feel the breath catch in your throat as you see, tucked in-between notes of rehearsals and fittings and photo shoots, your name surrounded by hearts. “You didn’t have to do that,” you, your voice wobbly with emotion. “I know how busy you are these days, how many other places you could be right now...”      “Hey....” Leaning over, he tucks your hair behind your ear, his fingers lingering against your skin. “My love, I promise you: there is nowhere I would rather be right now.” His thumb brushes your cheek absently. “I’m just sorry I was late.”     You turn your head to kiss his palm. “You’re right on time. Right, dad?”     Namjoon smiles, taking his hand back and turning to the food spread out in front of you both. Taking your plate, he starts to fill it with food. “Do you know that was one of the first conversations he and I had?”      “What was?” You smile fondly as you watch him.       “He warned me about how much you hated tardiness,” he says with a laugh. “It was literally his first ‘tip’ for me.”      You laugh in delight. “Really??”      “Oh, yeah. He warned me that, for the rest of my life, I should just get used to being places at least 20 minutes early. And more than 20 minutes if it was a really big deal.”      “And what did you say?”      “I said that sounds perfect. I need someone to keep me honest about time and schedules.” He sets your plate in front of you as his phones goes off again.      Your gaze wanders to it automatically. “Do you?” you say quietly, more to yourself than to him.       As he starts to serve himself, he goes on, “But after we’d joked a little, he got more serious, reminded me how much you worry when people are late, how much stress it puts on you. Don’t ever do that to her, if you can help it, he told me. She needs to know she can rely on you.” He pauses, his eyes going to the headstone. “I worry a lot about that, actually. Especially weeks like these when I’m so busy.”      You stare at him. “Worry about what??”      He sighs, turning reluctantly to meet your gaze. “If you can rely on me.”      Exhaling softly, you climb to your knees and move towards him, throwing your arms around his neck. “Of course I can rely on you, Joonie.”     His arms come up automatically to hold you, but his voice is muffled as he says, “Are you sure?”      “Absolutely!” You pull back a little, taking his face in your hands. “Look at where we are right now! You carved out time in your crazy schedule to come sit with me in a cemetery---and,” you add, your voice getting a little louder, “You brought a picnic!”      He laughs, some of his worry fading.      “You are the most important person in my life,” you say more seriously. “The only one I know I can always rely on. Always.”     Closing the gap between the two of you, he kisses you for a long moment. “I hope so. Your dad also threatened to come haunt me if I didn’t live up to your expectations.”      “Well, you haven’t seen any ghosts so far, right?”      He laughs. “Right.”      Releasing him, you sit back down right next to him and he snakes his arm around your waist to keep you close. You reach for his plate, pressing it into his free hand. “Eat up. I’m sure you didn’t eat anything for breakfast this morning.”     Smiling, he nods. “Yes, ma’am.”     You roll your eyes playfully and grab your own plate, but you get distracted while watching him. “He loved you, Joon.”      Eyes wide, his mouth full, he looks over at you.       Giggling at his expression, you nod. “He told me....he told me he was glad I had you. That he knew he could leave, because you would be around to take care of me, to keep me safe, to be there. He said he was so glad he got to meet you before...” You trail off; both of you have tears in your eyes now.     After a moment, he squeezes your waist. “He was an incredible man,” he says in a reverent tone. “I miss him.”     “Me, too.” You rest your head on his shoulder. When his phone buzzes again, you nod at his plate. “Eat, baby. I know you don’t have a lot of time left.”      He looks apologetic, but does as he’s told, and the two (three) of you fall into a comfortable silence. You close your eyes, letting the warm sun, the cool breeze, your dad’s memory, and Namjoon’s presence lull you into a state of absolute peace. When he finishes eating, you sit up and coax him to lay down, resting his head in your lap. You run your fingers through his hair as the two of you talk through some of your favorite memories of your dad, sometimes laughing, sometimes getting teary again. It’s the perfect moment.       But all too soon, you hear the tires on the pavement again, and when the shiny black sedan pulls up, you know he can’t ignore his buzzing phone any longer.     Sitting up, he turns to look at you, an apology on his tongue.      You shake your head, instead leaning forward to kiss him. “Thank you,” you say quietly. “This was everything to me. I love you.”     “I love you, too,” he says. “I wish I could stay longer.”     “It’s okay,” you say with a small grin. “Dad and I need a chance to rave over how perfect and precious you are, anyway, and we can hardly do that while you’re here.”     He laughs, but when his phone starts to buzz again, he reluctantly reaches to pack up the basket again.     “Don’t worry, I’ve got it,” you say brightly, getting to your feet and helping him up. “Go back to work, my brilliant Idol.”      Rolling his eyes a little at your teasing, he wraps his arms around your waist. “Thanks for letting me spend some time with you guys today,” he says, kissing your forehead. “I love you both.”     “I know. We love you more,” you say with a smile. “Now, get going! I’ll see you tonight?”       He nods, and as he releases you, you can see him settling back into his professional persona, already thinking about the work ahead. “I’ll text you as soon as I know when I might be home. But it might be late...It will probably be late.”     “It will definitely be late,” you laugh. “But it’s okay. Just rest when you can, and I’ll see you later, all right?”     “I promise. Drive home safe, okay? Text me when you get there.”     “Yes, sir,” you tease, and watch him with a fond smile as he jogs back to the shiny car. You watch it drive away, then turn back to your dad.      “What a perfect day, right?”      

[imitranslates]

Fukigen na Mononokean Ch. 78

Thanks so much for the well wishes, guys! I’ve been feeling a lot better, so without further ado: It’s time for Ashiya’s family trip! Maybe there’s a clue to be found during this time of rest, after all...

Please remember to check out the official English release when it comes out, preferably on Crunchyroll if you’re able to!

The newest chapter can be read on the official website by clicking the yellow button labeled 読む!

Fukigen na Mononokean Chapter 78 - Distant Ripples

Page 1

(Ashiya: Aoi-saaan, where are you?!)

[December 31st.]

[There is half of winter break remaining.]

Page 2

Mononokean: I'll open a door close to the Kurage Hot Springs Inn.

Ashiya: Excuse me for leaving first!

Ashiya: I'll be leaving for my family trip!

Page 3

Mononokean: We'll come to get you from the same spot tomorrow morning.

Ashiya: I'll be in your care!

Ashiya: Well, see you tomorrow!

Happy New Year to you all!

Mononokean: Happy New Year to you, too, Hanae~!

Abeno: Happy New Year...

Mononokean: I'll be waiting for my souvenir~!

Page 4

Mononokean: !?

Mononokean: Kyaaah!? Itsuki, what are you doing!?

Abeno: Rolling up your hanging scroll.

Mononokean: Why!?

Abeno: I've been so busy and focused lately that I've neglected my upkeep of the tearoom.

Abeno: A lot of demons will probably visit tomorrow for New Year's greetings. (Like Okina-dono.)

Abeno: I'll be giving you a spring cleaning. (Just stay there for awhile.)

Mononokean: (Wipe the alcove gently, okay...! Gently...!!)

Page 5

Hostess: Ashiya-sama.

We've been awaiting your arrival.

Hostess: Your room is the "Starfish Room."

[Starfish room: Ashiya-sama.]

Hostess: Please consider this a place of relaxation.

Hostess: Your companions have already arrived.

(Hostess: Excuse me.)

Page 6

Nara: Come on in!

Chisaki: Hanae~! Good work coming such a long way!

Ashiya: (Thanks for waiting!) Maaan, it really was a long way to come from the house! (It took an instant with the Mononokean...)

Chisaki: I sent all sorts of messages, but I didn't get any response, so I was worried!

Ashiya: (Huh?!) Sorry...! I was so busy that I totally forgot to check my phone! (There's so many notifications!!)

Ashiya: (The Underworld is out of range so any communications from Japan won't connect...)

Page 7

Nara: At any case, the three of us are all here!

Nara: It's cold outside, so I bet you're feeling a little chilled, huh?

Nara: Why not use the hot spring to warm yourself up before dinner? (Your sister and I have already tried them out, so we'll wait for you.)

Ashiya: That sounds good! Then, I'll go enter the hot springs!

Ashiya: (I'm not cold, but I did get all sweaty from walking around the forests!)

Ashiya: I haven't been to a hot spring since my middle school trip...

Ashiya: (No, wait... Since I accompanied Okina-san on his trip to the Tougen Hot Spring.)

[Ashiya: A geyser...?!]

(Ashiya: My school uniform got totally soaked...)

Page 8

Ashiya: Fu--Huh?!

Chisaki: What's wrong? (Fu...?)

Nara: (You scared me...) Did you forget something?

Ashiya: N... No?

Ashiya: There's just something in my bag that I didn't mean to bring...

Page 9

Ashiya: Fuzzy~~

Ashiya: You shouldn't sneak out without permission~~

Ashiya: I'm going to have to tell Abeno-san~~

(Ashiya: Hey, Abeno-san? Fuzzy ran off again~)

Page 10

Ashiya: There's crab!!

Nara: There's crab!?

Chisaki: Let's dig in~!

(Ashiya: It's soo good!)

(Nara: Delicious!)

(Chisaki: The meat is so tender!)

Chisaki: Do you want some sake to drink, Mom?

(Chisaki: You've worked so hard this year!)

Nara: I'll indulge! What about you, Chisaki?

Chisaki: Well, maybe I'll just have a little.

Chisaki: What do you want to drink, Hanae?

Ashiya: Orange juice!

Page 11

Ashiya: !?

Page 12

Ashiya: Mom?

Ashiya: If you're tired, you should go to sleep... (Or are you tipsy?)

Nara: I can't sleep yet!

Nara: Not until we do the New Year's Countdown!

Ashiya: (Even if you say that, you fell asleep last year and the year before that... So, probably this year, too...)

(Ashiya: It's because she's used to getting up early for work...)

Nara: Chisaki's gone... (I wonder where she went...)

Ashiya: She told us she was going to relax in the hot spring one more time,

and left a little ago! (You even said, "Have fun," remember?)

Page 13

Nara: Chisaki's always liked baths since she was little...

Nara: The first time we brought her along to an inn, she ended up going to the baths five times in two days and one night.

Ashiya: Was that trip before I was born? (This is the first time I've been to a traditional inn on a family trip...)

Nara: Yeah...

Page 14

Ashiya: Was dad there, too?

Nara: Yeah...

Nara: It was the three of us, me, Chisaki, and Sakae.

Page 15

Nara: Visiting art galleries and historical landmarks... Exploring shrines and eating local delicacies...

Sakae-kun was bad with crowded places, but he seemed so happy to spend time with Chisaki...

(Ashiya: Yeah?)

Nara: We took a family trip around midwinter season back then, too.

Tons of snow had piled up, so we played in the snow...

Nara: That reminds me... When we playing outside the inn,

There was an avalanche nearby, so we heard a thunderous roar.

Ashiya: An avalanche?!

Page 16

Ashiya: There was an avalanche near your destination?!

Nara: We were safe...

The avalanche was somewhere people couldn't easily get to, so no one was buried in it.

Nara: But... Sakae-kun seemed a little strange for a moment.

Page 17

(Chisaki: I finished it!)

(Nara: It's really good!)

(Chisaki: I'll make one more!)

Nara: ?

Page 18

Nara: Sakae-kun? Is something wrong?

Sakae: .....

Nara: ?

Sakae: You didn't hear that voice saying "help" somewhere?

Page 19

Nara: Wha?!

Nara: I didn't notice anything...!

Nara: ?

Nara: I don't hear anything... Can you still hear it, Sakae-kun?

Sakae: Yeah, faintly...

Nara: ...I really can't hear anything. (Just Chisaki's humming.)

Sakae: I see...

Page 20

Sakae: That's fine then.

Sakae: I must have misheard it.

Nara: But, there was that avalanche that happened close by...

It couldn't be...

Sakae: Didn't the people at the inn say it wasn't anywhere people could reach?

Sakae: ...It's cold. We should hurry up and get back to the inn.

Nara: Yeah...

Sakae: You, too, Chisaki...

Chisaki: !

Page 21

Chisaki: Huuuh?

Sakae: ......

Chisaki: Dad!

Sakae: ......

Page 22

Sakae: .....If it wasn't the voice of a girl, then...

I don't have any duty to go save them, and I could just ignore that I'd ever heard it...

Nara: Huh?

Sakae: Nara...

Page 23

Sakae: I'll be back soon, so... Look after Chisaki.

Nara: Sakae-kun! Where are you going?!

Nara: Sakae-kun...!

Page 24

Nara: He said that,

And ran off with his back to us...

Two hours later, he came back, covered in snow...

"I tried going to where I heard the voice, but there was no one there," he said, looking awkward...

Page 25

[A hot spring...

And an avalanche...]

[The voice of a girl calling for help

that no one besides Sakae could hear.]

(Could it be? The owner of the voice was...)

(Tougen-san...?)

Page 26

Ashiya: Mom!

Ashiya: Was the place you went back then----

Nara: .........

Ashiya: Good night...

Page 27

(Ashiya: Now I'm wide awake...)

[When I met Tougen, I couldn't even hear her voice while standing right next to her.]

[But Sakae was able to hear that voice from somewhere totally different.]

Page 28

(Did he have really good ears?)

[If I could make myself listen harder,] [Would I be able to]

[hear the whispering voices of demons somewhere far away?...]

Page 29

Ashiya: The sound of the ocean...?

Page 30

Ashiya: The ocean!

Ashiya: The inn's so close to the coast...! (I got here via the Mononokean, so I didn't realize!)

Page 31

[This sound...]

[The first day we went searching for Aoi,

I thought I heard it in the forest.]

[But, Abeno-san didn't hear anything,

so I ended up thinking that I just misheard it.]

(But if I didn't hear it wrong---)

Page 32

Abeno: Spring cleaning, complete.

Mononokean: (So bright...) It's sparkling like a brand new room.

Page 33

Mononokean: Itsuki? Incidentally...

Mononokean: Fuzzy isn't here... did you end up putting him up somewhere? (The storeroom?)

Abeno: Hairball snuck into Ashiya's bag and ran away, right?

Mononokean: He's a runaway?!

Abeno: You didn't notice either?

Mononokean: Hanae must be in for a shock around now!

Why didn't you tell him?

Abeno: It's his fault for being so bad at sensing demons' auras.

Abeno: Besides, we've been searching for Aoi since the beginning of winter break,

So Ashiya and I haven't had time to spend with Hairball. (He's started to get all restless after having to house-sit without any time to play...)

Page 34

Abeno: Under normal circumstances, I'd catch him red-handed, but...

Abeno: Since it's the New Year, I decided to overlook his boldness. (That's all.)

Mononokean: Well, I don't have to worry if he's with Hanae.

Mononokean: You shouldn't be doing tiresome work like spring cleaning during New Year's, either!

It would have been better if you took a break...

Mononokean: Or is it that,

If you didn't clean to take your mind off things,

Mononokean: You'd end up wanting to secretly look for Aoi on your own, maybe?

Abeno: Ah? Don't accuse me of weird things.

Mononokean: Oh, I hit the mark, huh?

Abeno: .....

Page 35

Abeno: I didn't plan to do anything alone... not this late...

Abeno: But...

Abeno: I'm well aware that I'm agitated.

Abeno: There's only half of winter break remaining, so I'm getting impatient...

Page 36

Abeno: We've come this far without finding a single clue.

Mononokean: Not even one?

Abeno: Yeah...

Mononokean: Nothing small either?

Abeno: The only thing was...

[Ashiya: I heard the sound of waves from that direction just now.]

Page 37

Abeno: ...!

Abeno: ......

Mononokean: ?

Abeno: ......

Abeno: ...Hey.

Page 38

Abeno: The Underworld...

Doesn't have an ocean... right?

[samthemarvelfan]

Graveyard: Prologue

Summary: Waking up on a trash heap is never ideal. Getting imprisoned on a planet you’ve never heard of? That’s way worse. Ella was one of Asgard fiercest and most cunning protectors, but when Loki’s rebellion threatens her people’s safety, she’s made it her mission to do one thing and one thing only; kill him. By any means necessary. 

Pairing: Loki Odinson x OFC

Warnings: Imprisonment, fight scenes, general calamity, canon typical brouhaha. 

A/N: So idk where this is gonna go just yet, but here’s a lil tasty morsel. This is my first non-Bucky fic! and it features my first Marvel love--Loki <3 Tags are open :)

The acrid smell of rust and filth surrounded you as you woke.

Sitting up, you realize that, once again, you’d awoken in your cell. Wishful thinking kept alive the hope that this was all a dream.

“Raaagg!” The guard with the tentacles shouted as he chucked the tray of mush under your door.

You grimaced at the sight of the chunky grayish-blue mush. “Thanks a lot.” You mumble as he walks away.

“...asshole.”

The substance jiggled when you poked it. Begrudgingly, you spooned some into your mouth. How could something this color taste like rotten carrots?

“Morning, Ella.” Korg said through your bars.

You smiled halfheartedly at him. “Hi Korg. Where’s Miek?”

“Ah, he’s part of the welcome wagon today.” He said cheerfully. “I guess a special guest arrived last night.”

You nod, eating your mush. “Really? Who is it this time?” You didn’t care, it was just nice to have a conversation with someone who could actually speak your language.

“Not sure, you know. But rumor has it he’s a King.” He said.

Rolling your eyes, you looked to him, “Aren’t they all.” The words dripped with sarcasm.

“No. Not everyone.” He said plainly. Korg was a...simple guy, sarcasm often escaped him.

“I know, Korg...I—forget it. I’ll see you tomorrow?” You ask.

“Actually, rumor has it a few prisoners are being released to the work shed to make room for new ones. I put a good word in for you!” He said happily.

Your head perked up. “Really? Thank you, Korg!”

“No sweat. Well, I have to go draw and quarter some Skartelians. Bye-bye, then!”

When Korg had left your cell front, it was once again just you, your slop, and the first glimmer of hope you had. A chance to finally be out of this fresh hell.

You’d forgotten how long you’d been in this place; a week? Maybe two? A month?

The days were long and they all blurred together. Your only solace was plotting your revenge against that repulsive megalomaniac who put you here in the first place.

The day before your capture:

“We must get to Heimdall.” Sif whispered to you. “The people need to leave this place before he enslaves them all.”

Your bloodshot eyes scanned the area. The sound of the riots outside grew louder, and guards patrolled every exit.

Almost every one.

“Sif, look.” You said, nodding to the archway just off the main corridor.

Your stealth is something you were known for. Being as clever and cunning and careful as any warrior before you. Not only that, but Sif had been the one that trained you for battle. You were just as fierce and skilled as she was.

The cold stone of the pillar pressed against your back, “I’m going. One of us needs to tell Heimdall to open the bifrost.”

Loki had cloaked the palace in a spell, blinding those in and around it from Heimdall’s sight.

She nodded, “I’ll give you as much cover as I can.”

You crouched and rolled a ways to get to the next pillar. Your steps and movements were so light, not even you heard them.

The palace guards had just done a rotation to the next corridor, and that’s when you made your breakaway.

You slipped through the archway with ease and began running down the stairs. The cobbled flights of steps were your last hurdle, then it was just a long, but mad dash down the bridge to get to Heimdall.

“Going somewhere?”

You froze. Your foot had just touched the last step, but it was too late. You’d been caught...he had caught you.

“Hm, it looks like you are. Perhaps running to that golden eyed oaf to tell him what I’ve done?”

Loki.

You swallowed thickly.

“What’s the matter, darling? Cat got your tongue?” He smirked.

“Another cheap trick? Had to conjure up a spell because you couldn’t find me yourself?” You spat back at him.

Loki began circling you. When he was right behind you, he spoke next to your ear. “Why don’t you make a run for it and see?”

It was a test. But you knew Loki would never be out here, so close to the riots. The ‘scourge of the kingdom’ rebelling against his reign and rule over Asgard.

“Alright.” You turn quickly on your heel and sprint.

You made it 20 feet when a log appeared out of no where right under your feet. You hurdled forward, stumbling and rolling on the ground.

The slam of the dirt knocked the wind clean out of you.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk...” Loki tutted. “Next time toss a pebble. That’d be a much wiser test.”

You stood as quickly as you could, and charged him. “I’d rather toss a dagger.” Your blades dropped from your sleeves into your grasp.

Slashing at him, the blade narrowly missed his throat. He stepped back smoothly, circling himself around you, before casting his duplication spell.

Suddenly you were surrounded by dozens of him. Each of them taunting you.

“Come and get me.”

Slash

“I’m over here!”

Slash

“Did you miss me?”

All attempts futile. The God of Mischief certainly was worthy of the name.

“You coward! Fight me!” You shout.

In a snap, the copies disappeared. Loki stood behind you, and cleared his throat. “Would you really kill your King, Ellaria?” He asked, using your full name.

“I’m not loyal to a throne, nor am I loyal to a murderer.” You seethe breathlessly.

Loki’s jaw clenched as he took a step away from you.

“Guards?” He said simply.

Suddenly, a dozen Asgardian soldiers surrounded you. “Please escort this little minx to the dungeons.”

You were trapped. The golden men circled you as Loki watched, enjoying the torment.

“Ella! Now!” You heard Sif shout. She had her crossbow at the ready, and fired on the guards. At her fastest, she could fire 30 arrows a minute, plenty to take out a dozen guards.

In an instant, their shields went up, and Loki crouched behind them. “Stop her!” He shouted, staring at Sif.

“Loki...” you called.

He turned quickly, and you slashed you dagger across his face, leaving a small gash on his cheek bone.

His fingertips went to feel for blood, and sure enough, it began to drip.

Loki laughed, his teeth chewing on his lip.

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” You smirked.

You planted your boot on the shield of the guard next to you. They were all crouched so it was easier than expected. Backflipping out of the circle of them, you ran as fast as you could down the bridge, praying Loki’s spell didn’t cast that far.

“Heimdall! Heimdall!” You scream.

A quick glance over your shoulder confirms your wonder if you were being chased yet.

“Heimdall! Open the bifrost!” You’re screeching now.

Suddenly, the bridge shakes. He’d heard you!

“Ellaria, stop!” Loki shouts from behind you. You glance to see he’s on a horse, riding fast.

Your lungs expand once more, but before sound escapes you, you see a tidal way approaching you. Angry water pulled from the sea beneath you barreling down from behind you.

“Heimdall! Open the bifrost! Please!” You’re desperate. The maniac chasing you had indeed cast a spell; one to end your life. 

You watched as the bifrost began to spin, he’d heard you at last!

Suddenly the wave over took you, launching you down the length of the bridge towards Heimdall.

You were rolling and churning in the waters Loki had cast, running out of air fast.

You’d gotten sent so far by the massive wave, somehow you been forced past Heimdall and into the still-turning stream of light that was the bifrost.

The surge of energy sent your body into a whirlwind. You were soaring through the universe in an iridescent ray of light made of enough energy to light up a continent.

After what seemed like mere seconds, you felt yourself enter and atmosphere. Shortly after that, you’d landed on a pile of...trash?

The tingles rushing through your body drained you. You’d never been in the bifrost alone before, and it was clear your body couldn’t handle the amount of power surging around it.

Clicks and pops made you open your eyes. Shielding them from the sun with your hand, you found yourself surrounded by humanoid creatures of every size and color. 

They were speaking. Communicating to one another.

“Help me. Please help me.” You begged, hoping feigning weakness would stop any unwanted hostility.

The orange creature reached his hand out--a hand with eight fingers, and you took it. He hoisted you up to your feet, and gave you a half smile. 

“Thank you.”

He nodded, “Mezbanjala fo tutu.” He clicked his tongue quickly.

“I-I’m sorry, I don’t understand you.” You said, shaking your head.

The group of creatures eyes suddenly widened, and the lot of them began shouting and running away.

“Hey! Wha--”

You felt a sharp pain in your neck, and then everything went black.

[ocsandallthatjazz]

RIZZY FOR A L L 👁 👄 👁

Lol putting it under the cut for length. Take your kids and go <3

1. Who is the most affectionate?

Rory brings out Izzy’s sappy side, but he’s the king.

2. Big spoon/Little spoon?

Izzy is such a little spoon, secretly wants to be doted on in her home.

3. Most common argument?

Insert any instance of Izzy going "why would you do that" at Rory and Sam.

4. Favorite non-sexual activity?

Izzy loves holding his hand. Loves it. Thinks it’s so cute when Rory starts swinging their arms around.

5. Who is most likely to carry the other?

Rory, and I'm getting the specific image of him doing it spontaneously and like trying to just carry her away over the shoulder.

6. What is their favorite feature of their partner’s?

Look at Rory's cheeks when he smiles, he's so cute he looks like a puppy. And he loves the way her eyebrows quirk while she talks.

7. What’s the first thing that changes when they realize they have feelings for the other?

Izzy gets surprisingly giddy and flirty but in yknow the shy teen with a crush way. Wouldn't take long for her friends to figure things out.

8. Nicknames? & if so, how did they originate?

I get to mention “Izzy Bizzy” again, yay. This is Rory’s equivalent to going “woah, take it easy” when she starts to go super high maintenance on their group and it’s accidentally super smart and effective of him. The rhyming is cute so she gets trapped in endearment and bizzy is a slang word for cop, which she can certainly sound like a ridiculous authority figure when she’s too in her head.

9. Who worries the most?

Izzy, my anxiety ridden legend.

10. Who remembers what the other one always orders at a restaurant?

Izzy does that the most!

11. Who tops?

“Bestie, you didn’t finish the question. I know you wanted to ask ‘Who tops the Broadway singing charts?’ And the answer is Vi Avery. Goodbye!” - Izzy

12. Who initiates kisses?

Izzy!!

13. Who reaches for the other’s hand first?

Rory. Gotta do that cute hand swing.

14. Who kisses the hardest?

You know Rory is the kind of person who like accidentally leaned in way too fast and bonked noses.

15. Who wakes up first?

Izzy. If the alarm goes off, she's up.

16. Who wants to stay in bed just a little longer?

You heard it here first, Rory is slow in the morning.

17. Who says I love you first?

Rory! Realizes he loved her around Valentines Day.

18. Who leaves little notes in the other’s one lunch? (Bonus: what does it usually say?)

Rory is the type to forget to pack a lunch entirely, but he'd put little words of affirmation in her lunches.

19. Who tells their family/friends about their relationship first?

Izzy had to, her family kept giving her Looks when Rory was coming over after school so often.

20. What do their family/friends think of their relationship?

Izzy's family don't think there's anything wrong with her having her first young relationship, but they were shocked that Rory was her type and I'm certain they didn't expect him to be The One. Rory's thinks Izzy is amazing and a great influence on him, but him permanently moving back to the US right after coming home was A Topic of discussion.

21. Who is more likely to start dancing with the other?

Rory! Head empty, Rory's off-beat dancing in the mash-up.

22. Who cooks more/who is better at cooking?

Izzy can do some of her mom's recipes pretty well. She doesn't know much outside of what was made most often at home, but hey they're good.

23. Who comes up with cheesy pick up lines?

Rory!!!

24. Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear during inappropriate times?

Rory you’re dumb I love you but please be quiet or take your whispers to Sam.

25. Who needs more assurance?

Again, Anxiety Izzy, my beloved...

26. What would be their theme song?

I think I currently have it listed as "Invisible String" by Taylor Swift.

27. Who would sing to their child back to sleep?

Rory and he'd be damn charming looking.

28. What do they do when they’re away from each other?

Izzy took their long distance as a time to focus on exploring herself and building the bonds with her friends - so she would just study half the time and the other half let herself get sucked into the NY antics without as much complaining.

29. one headcanon about this OTP that breaks your heart

Me: I constantly stress the fact that it’s important and healthy for couples to have close bonds with other people.

Also me: The idea of a subplot in early NY days where Izzy and Rory both keep calling each other just to get put off by the other being busy having fun with other people (which they’re partially doing to stay busy and avoid their big life changes) makes me break down inside.

30. one headcanon about this OTP that mends it

Someday I will write a drabble for Izzy coming out as ace to Rory because his instant support is so good 🥺

otp question meme

[inkribbon796]

Egotober Day 19: Found and Lost

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Prompt: cap hat

Summary: It’s cleaning day in the base’s storage room, some things are found within the many boxes, others are lost.

A/N: While I was planning out Egotober 2020, Seán found his old hat, so I had to capitalize on the day where the plot was “cap hat”. In equally important news it’s the anniversary to the first Sanders’s Side episode. So enjoy.

Warnings: none

It was a rare day in the heroes’ base. It was storage cleaning day. Or it was more accurate to say that Henrik got upset at the state the storage room was always in and pitched enough of a fit that Seán muttered a “Fine!” and organized a group to go clean it.

The storage room was also known as the “garbage room” by several heroes. Since everything that couldn’t go in the normal rooms went in the storage room. The problem was that seasonal decorations also went in the storage room. And so did all the heroes’ medical and personal records.

So occasionally stuff was just left to pile up and build for years and years. Some boxes, i.e. anything that Henrik or Logan had to touch was clean and organized. Everyone else’s belongings were in a sliding scale of neat and tidy, or haphazardly thrown into a box.

Mark was ordered to move all the decorations and stuff that would wind up going back into the storage room. Iplier kept all the records in his room, but it resulted in a row of boxes going down the hallway and Henrik looking like he was going to have an aneurysm. He was only coaxed into calming down with the promise that I’d be gone by the end of the week. Everyone would come in and organize their stuff, and the storage boxes would go back in.

Nate, Logan, and Henrik had already done their boxes earlier that morning. Now Seán and Amy were in the storage room.

“That’s the last of it,” Mark walked in, dusting off his hands as he started walking off. “I’m gonna get myself something to drink, cause I don’t keep stuff.”

“Can you get me something?” Amy looked up at him.

Mark stopped and leaned back into the room, “Iced coffee?”

“Thanks,” she smiled back, Mark smiled at her before leaving.

Seán was mostly digging through boxes, sorting through boxes almost meticulously, trash going into a bag, papers going into files, and other stuff going into boxes.

Then he let out an audible gasp, “Ooh! Oooohhhh! I knew it was in here!”

“What? What is it?” Amy asked in interest.

He stuck his hand all the way to the bottom and pulled out a grey flat cap hat. A huge smile on his face and he slid it on his head. “Ahh, nice. I knew it had ta be in here.”

“Did you find it?” Amy smiled. “I thought you lost that thing out in town?”

“Nah, I put it in some box an’ then the box got moved out here,” Seán smiled, taking out his phone and looking at himself with the camera. “Ahh, I look like such a little kid.”

“Did someone find embarrassing pictures?” Mark smiled as he flew back in, an energy drink in one hand and a bottle of iced coffee in the other.

“Didn’t you lose that one when Anti tried to electrocute you?” Mark grinned as he handed Amy her coffee.

“My lucky hat can survive the frigid vacuum ‘a Dark’s soul,” Seán boasted. “I knew if I actually cleaned stuff out I’d find it. It was either here or in my garage.”

“You gonna wear it with your costume again?” Amy asked.

“I dunno, been a couple years,” Seán shrugged, taking the hat off and looking at it fondly. “Don’t worry, won’t lose yah this time.”

At that moment, arguing started to come down from the hallway. It was a couple seconds later that the Sides walked in. Logan with some folded boxes, duct tape, and several trash bags.

Virgil was right behind him with Roman. “Ughh,” the anxious Side began to complain. “We’ll be here all day.”

Patton had a huge smile on his face as he walked in with an old WWI-era camera. “We should be done soon.”

Logan had insisted on bringing the camera with them after Janus had threatened to break it several times. He didn’t like the camera, complaining about the humming being insufferable. A sound none of the other Sides could actually hear themselves.

“Most of this stuff is yours, Patt,” Virgil reminded. “I haven’t been here long enough to make a mess.”

Patton set down the camera, “And it’s all important memories, so it won’t take long for us to be done.”

Mark and Jack looked at the camera, something about it just not sitting right, like it was a black hole of attention, demanding that someone look at it, pay attention to it . . . pick it up . . .

“Falsehood,” Logan corrected firmly. “You hoard garbage of sentimental value, you need to let them go.”

“But— I—” Patton fumbled.

“Garbage?” Roman dug through one of the Sides’ many, many boxes to tug out some plastic flowers. “They’re not garbage.”

“Do not enable him,” Logan warned angrily. “This has been going on for too long.”

The camera just sat in the middle of the Sides, making the other three people in the room a bit uncomfortable. Before Mark could speak up, all their communicators were off. Some big catastrophe was going on in downtown Brighton. It was Wilford in one of his manic episodes.

“Oh look at that,” Patton said, “we have to go save the day.”

“When we all get back we are finishing what we started,” Logan told him as his suit began to snap around him and his visor came down. “Head out, I’ll take the communication chair.”

All four of the Sides raced out and the instant they were out of the room, the camera had less of a malignant buzz to it. It was almost like it was just a normal camera, but there was something wrong about it.

Jack, Mark, and Amy chose to leave the suit up. Figuring that it could be dealt with when they all got back. The base was safe, no one would steal stuff from the storage room.

Nate missed the summons, he was set to go on tour and was already late. But while he’d been cleaning out his stuff, he’d forgotten a little book of phone numbers he wanted to get from his stuff. They were all old numbers he’d been meaning to get around to being in contact with, but dreading doing so all the same.

But he needed to do it now, or they’d track him down. They’d find out about Mare, and Nate didn’t want to admit that he’d gotten attached to the demon. That they had a fragile partnership.

Those thoughts went out of his head when he walked into the room and he felt like something had hit him in the face. His ears popped with the pressure in the room and reaching up to check on his nose, he noticed that when he pulled his hand away there was blood on his fingers.

“Arrghhhh, what the hell,” Nate grumbled, his ears ringing.

Hmmmmm . . .

Nate looked around the room, trying to see if something had snuck into the base. He saw an old camera just sitting there in the middle of the Sides’ mess of stuff. He didn’t feel like something was staring at him, but he did feel like something was in the room with him, sleeping but it could wake at any moment.

The humming was almost sing-song-esq in quality. Like a song Nate had heard but couldn’t place it right now.

He saw that camera and his blood chilled, he could feel what it was, what it had been used to do. And he lunged for it, high stepping over things, snatching it off the table and racing to his box to dig through it until he found the old spiral bound pocket notebook, and raced out of the room and out of the base as if someone had lit him on fire. The camera in his hands as he got into his car and raced for the tour meetup spot to properly figure out where this thing had been.

He had to get this thing out of the base, he’ll if he could get this thing out of the city that would be enough.

Logan would walk back into the storage room later that night, crisis over and his heart plummeted when he saw the camera gone. He felt like something had been ripped away from him. Checking the camera he watched Nate walk in, get a bloody nose, and then run off with the camera in a clear panic.

Trying to call Nate resulted in only reaching his voicemail, but Logan tried not to panic, leaving him. Message to call them about the box he’s taken.

The next day, Logan woke up to a message on his phone that read: “It’s cursed, keeping it in containment. We’ll talk when I get back.”

Logan frowned, worried and remorseful, but he had to trust Nate would not do anything drastic, that it was safe with Nate. He texted back and asked for Nate to keep the object intact, and the singer promised he would.

With that, Logan regrettably admitted to himself that there was nothing he could do, and get his phone aside to get an early start to his day.

[avenging-criminal-bones]

Family First

Spencer Reid x Reader

Word Count: 2171

Warnings: A typical episode of criminal minds, injuries

Summary: When a case leads back to your hometown, will everything pan out, or is it a bit rougher than expected?

* * * * *

It was 10:30 on a Saturday morning, your day off, when you got a text from Penelope, to start your day earlier then planned.

Hey superwoman, get your little booty to the BAU. This is a big scary haunting case. Hotch says all hands on deck… sorry about your day off.

You reply with a quick okay, and make your way to the BAU, most likely breaking a few speed regulations. What can you say? It sounded important.

You got there about 5 minutes after you received the text, and find that you and your long time crush, Spencer, are the only ones in the conference room besides Penelope and Hotch, of course.

“You weren’t prepared for this one, were you?”Spencer breaks the silence. Looking at your outfit, face and then your hair, smirking that super hot smirk that he’s got

You look at your outfit: black leggings, and a tee shirt supporting your favorite sports team, your hair in a very messy bun. You start to blush under Spencer’s scrutinizing stare, suddenly aware of you looking like you had just rolled out of bed.

Well, you had. But he doesn’t need to know that.

That’s when everyone started showing up, to begin the profile.

Penelope starts the brief. “Okay, my pretties, this one not pretty. Like at all. Or I guess I shouldn’t should say not handsome. All 7 victims were men between the ages of 20 and 35 and fit Spencer’s description. And had been drugged before being killed. Appearing to have had the drug chloroform in their system.” She starts the routine slideshow, not looking at it, “The unsub showed no mercy, he took his time with the last two men.”

Hotch says something, exactly what you were thinking, “This killer is unorganized and doesn’t seem to show remorse. And the fact that he took more time with the last victims, suggests that they were surrogates and that eventually he will go after the person that the killings prepare him for.”

“That, and notice how there are lacerations and burn marks on every victim’s back? I think the unsub may have a facial deformation, probably creating his lack of confidence to kill the men with them watching.” You say.

“Good observation Y/N, also since the unsub used chloroform before kidnapping the victims, he may not be strong enough to use force, therefore having to use creative methods to kidnap them.” After Spencer says good observation, you start to get butterflies in your stomach. He complimented you, and that are you happy. Well as happy as you can be while working a serial murder case.

“This is a time sensitive case, we will continue on the jet. Wheels up in 20. We’re headed to Palo Alto.” When Hotch says the last part, he looks at you, almost apologetically.

He knows your background, the reason you because and FBI agent. He knows how your mother was killed be Clyde Hoodsen 12 years ago. And how Clyde’s accomplice was never found.

And he knows your dad still lives there.

Spencer knows too, but they’re the only ones. He grabs your arm when you turn to get your go bag, holding you back.

“Will you sit with me on the jet Y/N?”

Not really wanting to talk to anyone, you nod and turn to leave.

On the jet you sit in the secluded corner seat that only fits two people, that way Spence can sit next to you.

When he does, the first thing he says is, “Are you okay?”

It was in that instant that the reality of how much you actually liked Spencer; loved him even. You answered him honestly. Spilling so much to him, because you feel safe.

“No, Spence. I’m really not. Losing my mom almost killed me. I was beyond depressed for 3 years after her death, and the fact that this unsub could be Hoodsen’s accomplice… It breaks me Spencer. I can’t lose my dad too, I just can’t. And I know he doesn’t fit the MO, but I’m scared.” Your voice breaks on the last word. You started crying during the first sentence.

Spencer takes one of your hands in one of his, and uses the other to bring your chin up to look at him.

Using the same hand to he used to lift your head up, Spencer wipes away your tears.

“Text him, Y/N, tell him to stay in the house with the doors locked. And tell him to text or call if anything happens, okay?”

“Okay.”

He gets out of the seat, but only long enough to get you your phone for you. Mumbling a ‘thanks’, you text him everything Spencer told you to, ending it with an ‘I love you, be safe’.

The plane lands in Palo Alto, and you feel unsteady about the entire thing. And it doesn’t help that you get a call right when the team gets off of the plane.

You see the caller ID and answer on the first ring.

“Hey dad, Are you okay?”

“Y/N, come to the house, hurry!”, your dad sounds panicked. You look for Spencer to make eye contact, but he’s talking to JJ.

“Bring Spencer. You trust him right?”

“Yeah dad, I do I’ll be there soon!”, you wipe your eyes, for you had started crying in the middle of that.

You run up to Spence, crying. Again.

“Spence, my dad… he called… he needs… Spencer?!”

He just pulled you into him, trying to get your hyperventilating to subside. And to keep that rant that he foresaw at bay.

“I’m coming with you, Y/N.”

“Okay Spencer… Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Spencer takes you to Hotch and talks lowly about something, but you can’t hear them.

The grabs your hand as the two of you make your way to the local police issued sedan. He makes you drive, much to your dismay, and protests.

“Spence, I don’t think I’m in a good place, mentally, to drive right now.”, you say, trying anything to not drive.

“Y/ N you’ll be fine, we will help your dad. I promise.”

“Don’t say anything about promises. My mom promised me that she would always be there for me. And where is she now? Six damn feet deep. People can barely make promises about where they’re going to dinner, let alone if you can make a promise about saving someone’s father. I mean so many thing could go tota-”

You’re interrupted my Spencer��s strong arms pulling you into yet another hug. He shushes you to stop the inevitable rant.

You quickly agree to drive, realizing how urgent the call sounded, and get into the truck. Driving to your old home, you pass a lot of stores and houses that bring memories.

The ice cream shop that your dad took you to every Sunday, or the park that you broke your first bone at.

It was your finger. You were playing in the grass, and you cartwheeled into the play set. When you fell you rammed your hand into the metal support and broke your pointer finger on the left hand.

You got to the house in about 4 minutes, and started shaking. So much so, that Spencer had to turn you away from the house to get you out of your trance.

“Hey, he’s going to be fine. Only .03% of crime victims are ever injured. And I know, that sounds like a lot, but that’s only because our place of work groups all of the murder and the pain and misery into one place. That place, will NOT be your home. Your father, will not get hurt today, Y/N.”

That should have made you feel better. And it did. Until you heard a crash inside your home.

“Oh my God, Spence!”, you say it, but too quietly him to hear seeing as you are already out of your car and to your front door. You had your gun pulled out, with Spencer copying you a few steps behind.

The unsub changed his MO. He made it personal to you. What are you gonna do? Apparently nothing, because the man pulled you and Spencer inside, and started yelling.

“Put your damn guns down! Now! If you don’t, pops over here will be eating a bullet for lunch!”

You and Spencer share a look, but comply with the man’s orders. After you set your guns on the ground and he takes them, he forces you to kneel.

You kneel on the floor of your old kitchen, tears threatening to spill onto the hardwood floors. This was not how you thought you’d see your dad next.

“You, the boy. Get in that chair.”

He looks at you and you shake you head, not wanting him to go. But he does. And the man ties him up, leaving you to sit and watch as the two most important men in your life are tied up and held at gunpoint.

“What do you want,” you say to the unsub, as he circles your father and Spence, a menacing look plastered on his face.

“I want you to choose, Miss L/N.”

“Choose what?”

“Just choose one of these men and I’ll let you know if you chose for them to live or die.”

You are not surprised that an unorganized unsub would want you to play a game like that, but it still caught you off guard. You look at your father; scared out of his mind. And you look at Spencer; who is all too familiar with being in situations like these. It sounds bad, but you almost wish he didn’t know what to do. When you look at them, both broken in different ways, all of your resolve, all your calm, is gone.

It takes everything you have not to start crying, but one warning look from your father and Spencer, makes you subdue the feeling. You make your decision and say it as calmly as you can.

“I choose myself.” Your voice never wavering, you make the decision to attempt at switching places with them.

You speak again, “I won’t let you hurt the only two people in the world that I care about with the entirety of my being, and if that means that I have to take their place, then I will.”

“Ah. You are so much like your mother. You know, when Clyde killed her, she was just as stubborn as you’re being right now.”

You visibly stiffen at the unsub’s words. Tensed up as if you were going to lunge at him. Apparently, Spencer noticed as well because he sends you a warning.

“Y/N, careful.”

When Spence speaks, the man hits him with the barrel of the gun, not knocking him out, but leaving a deep cut on his forehead and earning a pained grunt. As Clyde’s accomplice is preoccupied with Spencer, you get up and jump forward in an attempt at getting the gun away from him.

Failing, the man shoves you to the ground and lets off three shots. One of which, hit you in the stomach, making you let out a muffled scream. Right as you are seeing black around the edges, about to slip into unconsciousness, you see Hotch cuffing the man while reading his rights, and you see Spencer and your dad both crying, rush over to you.

The last thing that you felt, was a hand interlocking itself with yours. Probably Spencer’s. And a voice that you unmistakably recognize as your dad’s saying:

“I’ll be here the whole time, Y/N. Stay awake, stay with me. Talk to me! Keep your head up, slugger!”

And with that the darkness invites you in, and you accept the request.

Later you are in the hospital, hooked up to all kinds of tubes, with 3 nurses bustling around running tests. You open your eyes and the first thing you see is your dad.

“Hey, honey. How are you feeling?”

“I’m not sure yet, but I guess I’m not dead so that’s a plus. Wait! Dad, how did I not die? I got shot in the stomach. It didn’t hit any organs?”

You realize it’s awkward to talk with the breathing tube in your nose, so you go to take it out.

“No, Y/N, leave it, it’s helping.”

You look up and see Spencer leaning against the doorway to your room. He has a small bandage over his stitches.

“Spence!” You are about to get up to go to him, but he doesn’t let you. You hear your dad mumble something about being ‘more excited to see your boyfriend than you father’ and how it’s ‘rubbish’.

Spencer engulfs you in a warm hug, making sure not to hurt your stomach.

“The shot just barely missed your kidney. You Miss L/N, are a very lucky woman.”

“Yeah I am. Now that I have you here, Spence.”

The two of you share a kiss, and just sit there, in each other’s arms for what seems like eternity.

It was the best eternity of your life.